The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 359: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

328 REYNOLDS’ WORKS length broken by the Duke of Marchmont, who said, ‘‘ At what time to-day must you have this money? ”’ “It should all be paid into my banker’s hands by five o’clock this evening,’’ responded Armytage. ‘‘ It shall be there,”’ said the duke, and almost immediately afterward Zoe’s father took his departure. Christian instantaneously quitted the cabinet, for fear lest the duke should happen to look into that room, and he at once ascended to his own chamber. There he sat down to reflect upon what he had heard. He was sorry that he had listened: remorseful feelings arose within him, inasmuch as none of the discourse which had thus reached his ears bore the slightest reference to the horrible conspiracy in progress against the peace and reputation of the Duchess of Marchmont. Christian could not hide from himself the fact that he had done an unhandsome thing; in sooth, he was ashamed of his own conduct. He did not know whether to report all he had learned to Mr. Redcliffe, or not. But still he thought that as he had in the first instance set himself to listen with a special object, he had better com- municate the results to that gentleman. And this reflection led him on to another, — which was that it was probable Mr. Redcliffe’s plan of proceeding was to gain possession of some secrets in respect to the duke, for the purpose of wielding them as a means for compelling him to do Justice to the unfortunate duchess. “And if this be Mr. Redcliffe’s aim,”’ thought Christian to himself, “‘ it is perhaps fortunate after all that I did listen to the conversation between his Grace and Mr. Armytage. I am fighting in a good cause and on the side of justice. The cause is that of an inoffensive, a virtuous, and an excel- lent lady, against whom the foulest of conspiracies is set on foot, and all weapons which Mr. Redcliffe and myself may use to frustrate the odious scheme are fair and legitimate.”’ These reflections cheered the youth’s spirits, and imme- diately after dinner he repaired to Mortimer Street, Caven- dish Square. He had never been there but once since he and Christina resigned their lodgings in the house, and that once was on the occasion when he and his sister called upon Mrs. Macaulay to inquire whether she could give them any advice toward extricating them from the difficulties wherein they were placed at the time. CORnNICLOOKS (E()