The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

324 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘My dear boy,’ exclaimed Mr. Redcliffe, with a degree of excitement which was very unusual on his part, “‘ I am rejoiced to learn that you have found one who is so emi- nently deserving of your own devoted love, and who ex- periences so true a sentiment in return. But continue. What else have you to tell me? ”’ “The bridal of Sir Edgar Beverley and his beautiful Laura was celebrated yesterday,’’ continued our hero, “ and soon after the ceremony they set off for London, where they purpose to pass the honeymoon. Isabella accompanied them. She could not journey alone, and, as a matter of course, it was not discreet for me to travel with her. She has gone to that mansion which she originally entered a few months back in a state of dependence upon her uncle; she has gone to it as its mistress.” ‘“ Such is the mutability of human affairs,’’ observed Mr. Redcliffe, solemnly. ‘‘ But proceed, my dear Christian.’’ “It was originally arranged,’ continued our young hero, ‘‘ that I should remain at Verner House until this morning, and therefore, even if this morning’s post had not brought me your kind letter, I should have returned to the metropolis to-day. Rest assured, my dear sir, that I was most anxious to obey your summons with all possible despatch, but still I could not help halting for an hour by the way, to visit an unfortunate creature, — a victim of the Duke of Marchmont’s.”’ “Ah,” ejaculated Redcliffe, “‘ when will this man’s crimes cease to display themselves to me at every step? When will his career of iniquity be ended? ”’ ‘“‘ Never, I fear,’’ responded Christian, ‘‘ until his existence itself ceases.”’ Our hero then, at Mr. Redcliffe’s request, narrated every- thing he had heard from the lips of the unfortunate young woman, not even omitting the painful episcde in respect to her sister Marion. Mr. Redcliffe listened «vith the deepest attention, and when the youth’s narrative was brought to a termination, Mr. Redcliffe addressed him in the following manner: | ‘““My dear Christian, from everything that you have told me, I deduce evidences of your right principles, the gen- erosity of your disposition, and the intrinsic excellence of your character. At the very first I experienced such ECORNIELOOOKS, (Ee) m