The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

MAKEPEACE 193 pounds, you would only be doing what was fair and proper under the circumstances.” At the commencement of this speech on the part of the insolent valet, the young nobleman experienced the utmost difficulty in preventing himself from striking Makepeace down upon the floor. At the allusion to the circumstances of his amour with the countess, the blood of Adolphus tingled in every vein, and a crimson flush mantled on his previously pale cheeks. But when Makepeace so darkly and unmis- takably hinted at the murder of the old earl, Adolphus suddenly became pale as death, the blood appeared to stagnate into ice in his veins, and he quivered visibly. “Ah,” he muttered, “it is as I feared, but I was resolved to ascertain. You have been playing the eavesdropper; you have been listening to-night at the door of the red drawing-room.” “And what if I have?’’ demanded Makepeace, with dogged brutality of tone and look. ‘‘ What I heard there only confirmed my previous suspicions. Yes, my lord, I mean what I say. You had better purchase my secrecy; give me ten thousand pounds, and I take myself off, never to trouble you any more.” ‘Makepeace, hear me,” said the Earl of Lascelles, fear- fully excited. “It was not because my love betrayed me into such weakness, that I could have been guilty of so horrible a crime — ”’ “He who would seduce his father’s wife,” interrupted Makepeace, “‘ would scarcely hesitate to take that father’s life.”’ “Ah!” thought Adolphus to himself, ‘“‘ he does not then, know the terrific secret of my birth. He does not suspect that Ethel is not my mother-in-law, and that the old earl was not my father.”’ ; “Come, my lord, what are you thinking of? ’’ demanded the valet; “your lips move but say nothing. Let us cut all this short. You see that I know everything. Who had better reasons than you to make away with the poor old man just as he was on the very point of sending you abroad? ” “ Makepeace, I swear that I am innocent,”’ exclaimed Adolphus, vehemently. ‘ Your lordship would have some difficulty,’”’ returned the ) COMMICOO© cS (CO)