The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOUNTEBANK 117 to the treadmill, where, instead of capering upon stilts, they should dance upon an everlasting staircase, to the drumming and piping of the starveling German, if the governor of the gaol thought fit to allow such exercise of his musical powers. Now, we must observe that the old baronet, Mrs. Oxenden, and Laura were all three seated in the drawing-room at the time when the itinerant performers appeared in front of the mansion. Laura was deeply dejected, and so completely out of spirits that neither by threats nor by cajolery could Mrs. Oxenden draw her out from that desponding apathy. The position of affairs was most embarrassing for Mrs. Oxenden; she feared lest Sir John Steward should become sickened or disgusted and back out of the purpose which he had hitherto entertained. She therefore caught, all in a moment, at the presence of these mountebanks as the possible means of inspiring her young sister with some little tinge of gaiety, if only for a few transient minutes. “The rogues and scoundrels! ’”’ ejaculated Sir John, who was in an exceeding ill-humour at the dead, lethargic coldness of the beautiful Laura, ‘‘ I will have them every one sent to the House of Correction, I repeat. Here, let the footmen come — I’ll swear them in as constables. It is a regular breach of the peace. I'll read the riot act — Pl — Vl — play the very devil! ”’ “‘Let them proceed, Sir John,” interrupted Mrs. Oxenden, darting upon him a significant look with her superb eyes; and then, in a hasty whisper, she added, ‘‘ Everything must be done to amuse and cheer Laura’s mind at present.” ‘““ Ay, to be sure! ’’ exclaimed the baronet, ‘‘ they may be honest, well-intentioned people, after all. Poor fellows! I have wronged them; they are doing their best to pick up an honest penny, and as there just happens to be a halfpenny on the mantelpiece — ”’ ‘““ Nonsense, Sir John! ’”’ said Mrs. Oxenden, aside; for we should observe that the meanness of the baronet in some things was proportionate with his lavish extravagance in disbursing gold upon his own sensuous pleasures. Mrs. Oxenden took out several shillings from her purse, and going forth upon the balcony, she flung them out to the mountebanks, who speedily picked them up. Returning into the room, she accosted her sister, saying, ‘‘ You know not, my dear Laura, what surprising feats these gymnastic per- CORNICLOO© <S (CO)