The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

ISABELLA AT VERNER HOUSE 179 He accordingly opened it. We need not transcribe its con- tents; suffice it to say that they were of the nature which our young hero had anticipated. In this billet Mrs. Oxenden pleaded the strength of an irresistible passion as an excuse for the conduct of the preceding evening; she appealed to Christian whether he did not consider her sufficiently hu- miliated and mortified by the rejection of her advances, to abstain from inflicting upon her the additional punishment of exposure; she proclaimed herself a wretched woman, and finished by soliciting his mercy. Christian’s toilet was speedily completed, and he repaired at once to Sir Edgar Beverley’s chamber. The young baronet was close upon the termination of his own toilet, and he im- mediately saw that our hero had something important to communicate. In the fewest possible words Christian re- lated to the wondering Sir Edgar all the incidents of the past night, — how Mrs. Oxenden had sought him in his own chamber, how he had fled to another, how he had there en- countered the negress, how she had revealed to him the mys- teries of the secret chamber, how he had proceeded thither, and how in the captive he had recognized one as dear to him as Laura was to Sir Edgar Beverley himself. ‘‘ And here,” added Christian, ‘‘ is a billet which I found in my own room just now. I think you will admit, my dear Sir Edgar, that no lenient terms are to be kept with a woman of this character, and that there is nothing unmanly on my part in disregarding her appeal for secrecy, nothing dishon- ourable in showing the letter to you.”’ ‘“On the contrary, my dear Ashton,’’ answered the baronet, “it was your duty to show me this letter, and for more reasons than one. An assemblage of the most marvellous circumstances has rendered a being who is so dear to you an inmate of Verner House, and she shall be welcomed as a guest with all the warmth of that friendship which is ex- _perienced for you. In her Laura will find a companion and a friend, and the necessity for her infamous sister’s presence here at once ceases. Moreover, it would be an insult to yourself, and an insult to Miss Vincent, to bring her into contact with a being so degraded, so polluted, as this Mrs. Oxenden. Yes, she shall depart, and within the hour that is passing. Come, my friend, we will go and give all suitable directions for the ensurance of the comfort of Miss Vincent.” CORNICLOO© <S (CO)