The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

144 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘‘ almost highway robbery. I must make out the committal of these misdemeanants for six weeks as rogues and vaga- bonds — ”’ “Sir John Steward,” interrupted Edgar Beverley, with a haughty indignation, ‘‘ remember that I am an officer in the queen’s service.”’ ‘And therefore,’ retorted the baronet, “all the more completely bound to maintain law and order.” ‘You are determined to compel me to speak out,” re- sumed Beverley, in the same haughtily indignant tones as before, and with corresponding looks. “Sir John Steward — ”’ “Silence! ”’ again vociferated the old baronet, waving his hand furiously. ‘“‘I do not treat you as a nephew — I I discard you, I disown you.” ‘You were already prepared to do so,” replied Edgar, drawing his tall form up proudly in the midst of his cus- todians, ‘‘ before the incidents of this evening. Rest assured that I should feel myself but little flattered or complimented by being spoken of in the world as the relative of such as you. And now, Sir John Steward, you shall hear me. You may exercise your power tyrannously over my liberty, but you cannot place a gag between my lips. I accuse you of keeping a young lady within these walls against her will, I accuse you of contemplating the coercion of this young lady into a marriage which is loathsome and repugnant to her, I accuse you of leaguing and conniving with an infamous woman — ”’ “Sir John Steward,” cried Mrs. Oxenden, her counte- nance livid with rage, ‘‘is this abominable language to be tolerated? ”’ “It is shocking,” interjected Beverley, ‘‘ that a man should be compelled to speak thus of a woman, but with you, Mrs. Oxenden, I consider myself bound to keep no terms and to be swayed by no fastidiousness. Let your friend Sir John Steward dare to pronounce a sentence of imprison- ment against me and my generous-hearted companion, and I will unreservedly proclaim — ”’ But at this moment there was a loud knocking at the street door, which had been immediately preceded by the sounds of an equipage rolling up to the front of the mansion, although these sounds had passed unheard in ECORNICIOOKS (E(0)