The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

30 REYNOLDS’ WORKS it happened that Mrs. Maxwell herself was not at the party, and she informed me that her sister had no taste for such gaiety, but that, on the other hand, Mr. Maxwell himself was exceedingly fond of society. On the following day I met Mr. Maxwell and Louisa out walking; I joined them, and in the course of conversation learned that Mrs. Maxwell had that day gone to London on a visit to some friends, with whom she purposed to pass four or five weeks. During this interval I saw Mr. Maxwell and his sister-in-law nearly every day, and became more and more enamoured of the beautiful girl. On one occasion I happened to mention my uncle’s name, when it appeared that Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell were exceedingly well acquainted with him; but it also tran- spired that Louisa knew him not, and had never seen him. I must here inform you, Mr. Ashton, of something I ought to have mentioned before, which is, that my uncle does not bear the name of Beverley, he having adopted another name many years ago, by royal permission, on account of inherit- ing a certain property from a distant male relative who expressed in his will a desire that this change of name should take place. ‘Thus it was not until I happened specifically to mention the fact of the old baronet alluded to being my uncle, that Mr. Maxwell became aware of it. You must bear all this in mind, inasmuch as it has something to do with another part of the narrative.”’ | “IT shall not forget it,’ observed Christian. ‘“ Pray proceed, for your tale interests me much.”’ ‘““My acquaintance with the beautiful Louisa and her brother-in-law had lasted about six weeks,’’ continued Bev- erley, “‘ when the latter, remarking that his wife was to return home from London in the course of that day, in- vited me to dinner in the evening. [I joyfully accepted the engagement. I had not as yet visited Mr. Maxwell’s resi- dence, but now I was in hope to obtain a footing there. I had learned that he was tolerably well off, and that he lived in genteel though by no means splendid style at a house in Kemp Town. Thither at six in the evening did I proceed, and on being ushered to the drawing-room, was cordially welcomed by Mr. Maxwell, who, with all the uxorious pride of an old husband possessing a comparatively young and certainly very handsome wife, hastened to present me to the lady herself. Conceive my astonishment when, as my CORNICIOOKS (E(0)