The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAWYER ~ 149 This document, Mr. Beverley,’’ — and he lifted the deed from the table as he spoke, — “‘ will have the effect, when duly signed by Sir John Stewart, of breaking off the entail of his estates and enabling him to bequeath them to whom- soever he may think fit. You must therefore understand that inasmuch as you will henceforth have no prospective interest in your uncle’s property, you become entirely dependent upon his bounty. But on his behalf, I offer to secure you the sum of five hundred a year, on condition that you now at once sign a paper which I in a few minutes will draw up to the effect that you renounce all claim and pre- tension to the hand of Miss Hall.” Edgar Beverley sprang up from his seat in so violent an agitation that for an instant it appeared as if he were on the point of inflicting summary chastisement upon the per- son of the solicitor, but the next moment, restraining the extreme violence of his feelings, he darted one withering glance upon his uncle, and then addressed the attorney in the following manner: ‘‘ Your position, sir, as the mere hireling agent for another, secures you from the effects of my resentment. But hear me reject with scorn and indignation the base — the infamous proposal you have made me. As for receiving anything from what you have termed the bounty of my uncle, I should loathe myself were I to condescend to such despicable mean- ness. But when that falsely called bounty is offered as the price for a love which is above all price, no words are ade- quate for the expression of my disgust and indignation. And now I demand that I may at once be free to depart hence, — my young companion likewise, — or, by Heaven! there shall be lives lost ere I am again overpowered ”’ “Then, by Heaven,’”’ exclaimed Sir John Steward, rising up from his seat in a paroxysm of ungovernable rage, ‘‘ you shall see before you leave this house that I am thoroughly in earnest in disowning and disinheriting you, — ay, by deed and by will.” | With these words, the baronet rushed to the bell, which he rang violently, and on one of the domestics on the landing hastily answering the summons, the infuriate old man ordered that the butler and another upper-servant should be desired to attend in the drawing-room. Edgar sat unmoved, for though he had just now demanded his liberty, yet it was CORNICLOOOKS (CO)