The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

MADAME ANGELIQUE’S THREE BILLETS 301 she gave up business altogether, she had written him the note which now brought him into her presence. ‘Why, my dear Madame Angelique,’’ mumbled the old Jord, as he deposited himself in an easy chair, — an effort which raised so violent a fit of coughing that for upwards of a minute it seemed as if his enervated frame must be shattered to pieces, — ‘‘ I vow and protest that you look — ugh! ugh! — this cough of mine! — younger than when I last saw you.” ‘‘ And yet, my lord,’”’ responded the milliner, ‘‘ the lapse of five years can scarcely make one look younger.”’ ‘“ Ah, very good, very good! ”’ said Lord Wenham, laugh- ing with a chuckle that was hideous as a death-rattle. ‘“‘ Yes, yes, in spite of five years you find me looking — ugh! ugh! — younger also?” for be it observed that on account of his deafness he had not caught the precise terms of the milliner’s speech. “You look so young, my lord,’’ exclaimed Madame An- gelique, taking advantage of the little error into which he had fallen, and now speaking loud enough to make herself heard, “ that I am convinced you are as terrible amongst the fair sex as ever.”’ ‘Ah, ah! I understand,” said Lord Wenham, ‘‘ you have got — ugh! ugh! — some sweet creature that you mean to tempt me with, eh? eh? — ugh! ugh! ”’ “Fully esteeming your lordship’s kind patronage,’’ re- joined Madame Angelique, “‘ before you went as ambassador plenipotentiary to the Court of , | was resolved to give you the preference for the most beautiful girl that ever confidingly placed herself in my hands. I can assure you, my lord,’’ added the wily woman, with a significant look, ‘“‘ that she is as pure and virtuous as the day she was born, — an immaculate virgin.”’ The old nobleman leered and licked his lips sala- clously. “It is a positive fact, my lord,’’ continued Madame An- gelique. ‘ The truth is, she has recently been left an orphan, and, to be candid, she is a niece of mine. What can I do with her, poor thing, except provide for her in a way of which her beauty renders her so deserving? ”’ ‘“‘ To be sure, to be sure! ’”’ said the old nobleman, who in order that he might not lose a single syllable that fell from CORNICLOOKS (CO)