The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

AMY 320d a pleasant little dispute as to the amount of his fare, but Christian cut the matter short by slipping into the man’s hand a gratuity so liberal that it made him touch his hat to the donor, and then bestow a look of. insolent triumph on Mrs. Macaulay. Christian accompanied Mr. Redcliffe to this gentleman’s sitting-room, where dinner was speedily served up. Mr. Redcliffe conversed on general topics during the repast, and as he was evidently postponing his explanation of the reasons which had induced him to send for Christian to London, our hero did not think it proper to put any question on the point. One or two little circumstances, however, struck him. From the very first moment of their acquaint- ance Mr. Redcliffe’s manner had been invariably friendly, but now it was most kind and even affectionate. He more- over contemplated Christian frequently and fixedly, and after those earnest surveys he would sink into a profound reverie. All this our young hero could not possibly fail to notice, and he therefore awaited the coming explanations with all the more eager curiosity. The repast was cleared away, the dessert and wine were placed upon the table, and Mr. Redcliffe then questioned Christian as to all that he had been recently doing. There was something in that gentleman’s manner which invited the fullest confidence, and our hero accordingly revealed to Mr. Redcliffe his love for Isabella Vincent. He related everything which had occurred at Ramsgate, and having brought down the narrative to the point at which it is already known to the reader, he concluded in the following manner: “Yesterday morning’s post brought Miss Vincent a letter, containing the startling announcement that her cousin the Earl of Lascelles, and her aunt the countess, had ceased to exist; so that all ina moment Isabella found herself the heiress of fine estates and immense wealth. When she had recovered from the shock which the intelli- gence of that fatal accident or double suicide — whichever it was — naturally caused her to experience, the amiable and faithful girl gave me to understand that if the sudden possession of wealth were a source of satisfaction, it was because it would in due time enable her to prove the sin- cerity of that love which she entertains for me.” CORMMICLOO© cS (CO)