The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

170 REYNOLDS’ WORKS grief, she had taken some refreshment, for Sir John knew well enough how to drug even tea or coffee, and then awaking to find herself in a living tomb from which it was told her she would never be allowed to go forth until she complied with his desires — ”’ ‘Good heaven! is this possible? ” exclaimed Christian, his incredulity vanishing, and his interest in the black woman’s tale becoming all the more fearfully vivid as it seemed suddenly to be stamped with truthfulness. ‘“‘ It is quite possible, sir, because I have seen it over and over again with my own eyes.” ‘‘ And perhaps, accursed hag, you yourself have aided in all those black satanic villanies? ”’ “There, sir! what mercy have I to expect,’ asked the trembling negress, “‘ at your hands, when you burst out upon me in this way? ”’ ‘Go on — go on,” said Christian, mastering his burning indignation as well as he was able. “I will interrupt you no more, if I can help it.” ‘Well, sir, 1 must trust to your goodness,” continued the black woman. ‘ As I have already hinted, there has been many and many a victim in that dreadful place, and then, when innocence turned into dishonour and degradation, there was either an anxiety to screen it all on the part of the sufferer, or else, when once lost, she accepted her position of an established mistress, and when cast off, retired with a goodly pension, so that what with one way or another, the secret of that mysterious chamber was never betrayed. And let me tell you, sir, that the device was infallible, for the poor victim, however virtuously inclined, and however strenuously she resisted at first, always succumbed at last, when either worn out in spirit, exhausted, half-maddened, or reduced to desperation.” Christian was about to give vent to another outburst of his feelings, but he controlled himself, and suffered the negress to proceed. ‘ Of all the servants of the house,”’ she continued, ‘‘ myself and the woman of whom I have spoken alone knew the secret of the mysterious chamber. That woman died about a year back, and thus the secret remained with me, for there was no one else in the establishment to whom Sir John thought fit to confide it. However, he and I sufficed ) ECORNICIOOKS (E(0)