The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

302 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Madame Angelique’s lips drew forth an ear-trumpet and listened therewith. ‘‘ Go on — ugh! ugh!” ‘It is all precisely as I have the honour to inform your lordship,’”’ continued the woman, ‘‘and therefore— But what do you think? ”’ she suddenly ejaculated. ‘‘ Somehow or another the Duke of Marchmont heard of this lovely crea- ture being under my care, and he came last night and offered me five hundred guineas to take her off my hands. But I sald, ‘ No, no, my lord duke, I have the honour of a noble- man’s acquaintance who I know will cheerfully write me a cheque for a thousand, and bear off Miss Eglantine in tri- umph!’ That’s what I said, my lord.” ‘“‘ And you meant me? ”’ said Lord Wenham, full of nervous anxiety to obtain possession of the much-vaunted prize, ‘“you meant me, my dear creature — ugh! ugh! this cough of mine! — But you meant me?” ‘“ Certainly I did, my lord. And was I not right? ” ‘“‘ To be sure, to be sure! ”’ responded his lordship. ‘“ But can you really guarantee, eh? — you know what I mean — ugh! ugh!” “That she is innocence itself,” exclaimed Madame Ange- lique. ‘‘ In short, she is almost too prudish; but I have no doubt that with your lordship’s powers of cajolery, those powers which, as the newspapers say, you used to such effect when you put the foreign minister at the Court of in such a dilemma — ” ‘“ Ah, you have heard of that?” said the ancient diplo- matist, chuckling. ‘‘ Egad! I talked his Excellency off to sleep, and when he woke up, he signed the treaty in the twinkling of aneye. But about this Miss Eglantine — what a sweet name! dear me, what a sweet name! — ugh! ugh! ugh! ” ‘“She is yours, therefore, my lord,’ answered Madame Angelique, ‘‘ and the bargain is concluded.” ‘““ Eh? — stop! ”’ cried his lordship. ‘‘ I should just like, you know, to see her first of all, — merely, you know — ugh! ugh! — this cough of mine — ugh!” “To be sure! Iwill go and fetch her at once. There are writing materials; your lordship can pen the cheque, for if you are not satisfied with the first view of her, your lordship can but cancel the draft.” Having thus spoken, Madame Angelique issued from the ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0) m