The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 334: what you’re looking at

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

MADAME ANGELIQUE’S THREE BILLETS 303 boudoir, and leaving his lordship in the midst of an ecstatic fit of coughing, she ascended to the private chamber of Miss Eglantine, who had only just completed her toilet. For this paragon of virtue and innocence, who was also tinged with prudery, had been passing the night, and several hours of the forenoon also, in the arms of one of the frequenters of Madame Angelique’s establishment. ‘““ Now, my dear girl,” said the crafty woman, ‘‘ I am come to announce to you that your fortune is made. I purpose to give up my business as soon as possible, but in all motherly kindness I mean to provide for the dear girls, yourself in- cluded, whom I look upon as my daughters. Here is a nobleman immensely rich, who will take you into his keeping; he will allow you at least eighty pounds a week, and if you play your cards well, you can marry him. To be sure, he is not quite so young as he might be, perhaps sixty or so, though he may look a trifle older; but then there is this to be con- sidered, that you can manage him all the more easily, for he is somewhat in his dotage. Come along with me at once. You must look as modest as possible, and when, in his lord- ship’s presence, I hint at the connection you are about to form with him, you had better shriek out, — not too loud, you know, for fear of being overheard, — and then you can cling to me, and if you choose to go off in a fit, why, 1t may perhaps be as well. However, in the long run you will yield your consent, and his lordship will provide for you this very day. Of course you understand, my dear, that I am per- fectly disinterested in what I am doing for you. My only object is to give you a comfortable position, and I do not get one farthing by it — no, not a fraction.” Eelantine was perfectly willing to. fall into the infamous woman’s views, and she at once followed Madame Angelique to the boudoir. A glance at the writing-desk showed the milliner that the cheque lay there, ready drawn out, and the instant she had introduced Eglantine to the ex-ambassador, she seized the opportunity while his lordship’s eyes riveted gloatingly upon the supposed victim of an aunt’s treacherous cupidity to catch up the draft and thrust it amidst the folds of her dress. The entire scene, as previously arranged, was then gone through: the half-subdued shriek was uttered, the prudery was affected, the appeal to the wicked aunt was made by the innocent and virtuous niece, and then the latter sank CORMMICLOO© cS (CO)