The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

AMY 319 or at least until some weeks back — that she was still in her position as a governess, for her letters gave me an as- surance to that effect. On leaving the service of the Duchess of Marchmont, I went to see my sister, but instead of finding her living as a preceptress in a respectable family, I found her luxuriating in the gilded infamy which at once pro- claimed itself to my comprehension. ‘Then, in the agony of my mind, I revealed everything which related to myself, told her how I had likewise fallen, though Heaven knows through no fault of mine, — and told her likewise who was the author of my ruin. Then I came hither.”’ Amy ceased suddenly, and Christian, much pained by the narrative which he had just heard, said, in a gentle voice, ‘‘I fear from the manner in which you broke off that you have nothing to add in respect to penitence and reformation on the part of your erring sister? ”’ “Alas, nothing!’”’ responded Amy Sutton. “So far from seeking to turn into a better path, Marion has taken a downward step in the career which she is pursuing. The Earl of Beltinge discovered that she was faithless to him, and in a moment he discarded her. Yes, mercilessly, though perhaps his severity was justifiable enough, he turned her adrift into the streets, stripping her of every valuable and costly gem with which he had presented her during the time she was under his protection. What resource had she? The unfortunate girl found her way to a house of fashionable infamy, which is not altogether — at least in one sense — unknown to you.” “To me?” ejaculated Christian, in the most unfeigned astonishment, and then, with a look of indignation he said, “‘I can assure you, Miss Sutton — ” ‘I did not mean to offend nor to insult you,’’ responded the young woman. ‘“ The fashionable house of infamy to which I allude is that same Madame Angelique’s —’’ ‘Ah, I comprehend,” cried Christian, — ‘‘ the place where those dresses were made, the diabolical use of which so nearly proved fatal to the character of the Duchess of Marchmont.”’ “The same,’ Amy replied, “‘ for the avocation of a dress- maker has been for years carried on by Madame Angelique, as a blind for the loathsome traffic which she pursues behind the scenes.” EOMIGIOOKS (CO)