The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

292 REYNOLDS’ WORKS of vice and immorality the haughty tone of aristocratic feel- ing prevails; and Marchmont winced at the idea that he, a duke, should be compelled to take under his protection the cast-off mistress of an earl. Were she the discarded para- mour of a king, a prince, or even a royal duke, it would have been different. Such was the sensitiveness of a man who hesitated not to make a familiar companion of a woman like Madame Angelique, the keeper of a fashionable house of infamy, — a man too who would have plunged himself into crime to rid his path of an enemy, like Indora, who, as he had reason to believe, was by some means or another threatening his security. As the Duke of Marchmont was continuing his way slowly, and in deep, brooding thoughtfulness along the street, he encountered some-one who suddenly addressed him by name, and looking up, he beheld the Honourable Wilson Stanhope. ‘“‘ My lord, I greet you,” said that unprincipled individual, in a tone of familiarity. ‘“ Ah, so you have returned from Paris?’’ observed the duke, somewhat coldly. ‘“‘'‘Yes, where, I am sorry to say,’’ responded Stanhope, ‘“‘T fell in with persons who were cleverer than myself, and the consequence is I am as completely cleared out as ever an unfortunate devil was. I was just thinking to whom I could apply for a little friendly succour, when behold, fortune throws me in the way of your Grace.”’ ‘“ Then your pocket, I presume, is empty? ”’ said the duke, speaking slowly and in a musing manner, for he was revolving in his mind something that had just occurred to him. ‘“So empty,”’ rejoined Stanhope, “ that the introduction of such a thing as fifty guineas into that pocket of mine would be a veritable godsend. May I anticipate that for old acquaintance’ sake — and you must remember, my lord, that if that affair with her Grace down at Oaklands ended in failure — ”’ “It was not your fault, I admit,’”’ returned the duke, ‘‘ but you must also recollect that I gave you a liberal reward. Enough, however, on that point. I think I can do some- thing for you now. What would you say if I were to intro- duce you to-morrow to a handsome suite of apartments, a beautiful girl already installed there as the genius of the ECORNICLIOO KS (Eo)