The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XII THE BORROWED COSTUME Tue dusk had now closed completely in, and Sagoonah, on regaining the villa, at once ascended to her own chamber. There she sat down to give way to her meditations. ‘“ Did I not almost foresee it? ’’ she thought within her- self. ‘‘ Was I not incessantly haunted by the idea that he would scorn my love? Did I not continuously entertain the dread that it were impossible to thaw that frozen heart of his? It has been done, the attempt has been made, it has failed. It were madness to renew it. But now, what re- mains forme? A hopeless love, or asignal vengeance. Hope- less love? Ah, no! That were cherishing a serpent to gnaw continuously at my heart’s core! That were to sur- round this very heart of mine with red-hot coals and fan them into an incessant blaze. I could not live thus. But vengeance? Ah! and it will not be vengeance on one only, but likewise on her to whom he has plighted his troth.”’ Sagoonah arose from her seat and paced three or four times to and fro in her chamber. Her better feelings were maintaining a severe struggle against the agitation of the darkest passions of her soul, for she had truly and fondly loved Clement Redcliffe, and the blow which she meditated against him would, she thought, be crushing, overwhelming; it would be death, and yet not death to be inflicted by her own hand. ‘“ Yes, I will do it,’”’ she suddenly ejaculated within herself. “JT will do it. I must have vengeance for this slighted love of mine. And besides, even apart from vengeance, I must do that which will effectually prevent him from ever becoming the husband of the queen. Oh, to serve him as a slave, I who love him so madly! To behold him in the arms of 125 ECORNICLOO© Ss (C(O)