The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

MRS. OXENDEN 127 shall not flatter yourself I am your dupe, or that you have caught me as a veritable dotard in your meshes.”’ ‘“Good heavens, Sir John!’ exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, frightened lest things were about to take a turn but little in accordance with her hopes and views, ‘‘ how can you think of talking in a strain so ungenerous, so unkind — ”’ “Well, well,’’ interrupted the baronet, who was really under the influence of this deep, designing woman, but who wished to persuade himself that it was otherwise and that he was altogether independent in his own mode of action, ‘““we will not get to angry words; but now that affairs are growing toward a termination, it is just as well for us to understand each other. Look you, how rests the matter? I receive communications from Brighton, from my nephew and yourself, to the effect that he has fallen desperately in love with your sister Laura. I at once send off for you to come to me and receive personal explanations, because [ think they are due to you after all that in previous years had taken place betwixt you and me. You come accord- ingly, and I then tell you in confidence that I mean to dis- inherit my nephew, as I possess the power to do so, and that I mean to marry, in the hope of having an heir. ‘Then you draw me such a picture of your beautiful sister that you make the blood thrill in my veins — ”’ ‘ But why this recapitulation,’’ exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, ‘of all that is so well known to us both? ” ‘“ Because I am resolved,”’ returned Sir John, somewhat eruffly, “that the matter shall be established clearly be- tween us in all its details. Well, as I was saying, you straightway drew me such a picture of your sister that I was quite ravished by it, and fancied myself altogether young again. Patience! — do not interrupt me. I told you at the time that if the original proved only half as charming as the portraiture, I would gladly make her Lady Steward. Now, I do not hesitate to confess that skilful as you are in the art of word-painting, and vivid as your verbal delineation was of Laura’s charms, you adhered strictly to the truth, you did not exaggerate — ”’ ‘Well, I am glad to hear that my promises and your hopes were completely fulfilled,’? interjected Mrs. Oxen- den. ‘“‘ Oh, yes,” ejaculated Sir John, “‘ I freely admit that such EOMINGIOOKS (CO)