The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

202 REYNOLDS’ WORKS emphasis as before, “‘because I am speaking the truth. You feel it as I know it. Look at me, Adolphus. Have I the air of a guilty woman?” and rising up from her knees as she thus spoke, she regarded him steadily in the face. “ But you, oh, Adolphus, I conjure you — ”’ ‘““ Nay, observe,” he interrupted her; and now his own look, manner, and voice were replete with a solemn sense of awe, “that same vow which you have taken do I dare repeat,’ and he sank down upon his knees at the same time. ‘“* Adolphus,” cried the countess, “‘ add not perjury — ” “‘ Silence!’”’ he exclaimed, in a tone which made her stop short suddenly, and starting back a pace or two she became transfixed to the spot. Then Adolphus repeated, in solemn averment of his own innocence, that same oath which she had taken in respect to herself, and she heard and looked on in silence. He rose up from his suppliant posture, he gazed upon her with an ear- nest steadfast scrutiny; she looked upon him in a similar manner. ‘“ Would you swear that oath upon the Bible?” he at length asked, and still more searching was his gaze, as if to penetrate into the nethermost depths of her soul. “I could repeat that oath upon the Bible,” she answered; and though her countenance continued deadly pale, yet was her look firm, quailing not for a single moment. “ But would you? ” ‘Yes! Behold me!” ejaculated Adolphus, and hasten- ing to a book-shelf he took down acopy of the sacred vol- ume. ‘Then let us swear,” said Ethel. ‘‘ But if the deed lie not between us two — ”’ ‘Oh, if it did not,’’ exclaimed Adolphus, quivering with the strength of his emotions, ‘‘ if we could only convince each other that it did not— But, ah, Ethel, there is one test — and, alas! alas! I fear that you could not bring yourself to pass through it.” ‘“‘ Still suspicious against me?”’ said the countess; ‘‘ and I who, more generous, was beginning to have faith in you and to believe that we had both hitherto been the victims of some horrible mystery, some hideous crime perpetrated by another! But enough! What is this test? There is no c¢ ECORMIECLIOOKS (E(0)