The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

152 REYNOLDS’ WORKS srasp of the domestics, Laura in the power of her sister and the negress. The scene in that drawing-room was now fraught with a . vivid and most varied interest. There stood the lieutenant, his garments torn, his countenance pale as death, his lips white and quivering, his chest heaving and falling with rapid pantings after the violence of the struggle and in the con- tinued excitement of his own agitated feelings. On the other side of the same extremity of the apartment was Laura in the grasp of Mrs. Oxenden and the negress; the poor girl had not absolutely swooned, but half-dead with mingled distress and terror, she had sunk upon her knees, and her eyes were fixed in a sort of despairing bewilderment upon her lover. At the table Sir John Steward, with a diabolic expression of countenance, resumed the seat from which he had started, and the lawyer, bending over toward him, whispered, ‘‘ For Heaven’s sake, do not carry all this too far! ”’ ‘‘ Now,” exclaimed the baronet, not heeding the attorney’s well-meant remonstrance, but giving free vent to his vin- dictive rage and his feelings of ferocious triumph, “ instead of having a couple of witnesses to this document which dis- inherits my nephew, we will have a dozen. Look, Edgar, the pen is in my hand, the ink is in the pen, the deed is before me. At this instant you are my heir, — the next moment, when my name is signed, you will have no more claim upon my property at my decease than the veriest stranger.” “Do your worst,’ ejaculated Beverley. ‘I call every one to witness that I care not the value of the very pen which you hold for all the estates you possess. But it is the safety and happiness of this injured, outraged young lady — ”’ , ‘‘ Ah, but she shall become my bride in spite of you,” vociferated Sir John, who was perfectly mad with rage, ‘‘and this hand which is about to write the words that will leave you a beggar shall hold hers at the nuptial ceremony.”’ ‘Remember, Sir John,” exclaimed Edgar, “ that Heaven at any moment can paralyze and wither the hand which 1s stretched forth to do injustice or mischief.”’ ‘Silence, wretch. I defy you,” vociferated the furious baronet, and again dipping the pen deep down into the ink- CORMICLIOOKS (E(0)