The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

A WOMAN’S LOVE 161 nance, he saw that it was tearful, and he knew that those tears were flowing for himself. “Yes, Lavinia,” he said, ‘‘I am unhappy, and I have enemies. I do not deserve this kindness at your hands, I feel that I do not.” “Oh, my dearest husband!’’ murmured the duchess, taking his hand and pressing it to her lips, ‘ you have spoken to me in a tone and in a manner which in one sense has given me happiness, but which in another has filled me with affliction. You seem to promise me a restoration of your love and confidence, and it is this that makes me happy. On the other hand, you tell me that you yourself are unhappy and that you have enemies, and it is this which smites me with sadness. Who are these enemies of yours? If you have given them a right to persecute you, may they not be moved by the intercessions of a woman? And if without reason they are persecuting you, may they not be turned into a right path by the remonstrances of your wife, on whose head would redound any evil which happened to yourself? ”’ ‘‘ Lavinia,’ answered the duke, as an idea struck him, ‘it is possible that you can serve me — yes, yes, you can if you will.” ““And I will!’ exclaimed the duchess, vehemently, ‘“ you know that I will,’ she added, with impassioned energy. ‘““ Oh, it would indeed delight me to be of service to you, to dispel the cloud from your brow, to give back peace to your looks. Tell me how all this may be done. And ah! now I bethink me, if the revelations you may have to make be of a character to unveil some weakness on your part, think not for an instant that I shall retreat from my pledge, or that I shall with the less energy undertake whatsoever mission you may confide to me.”’ “You are sure of this, Lavinia?’ said the duke, im- pressively, and gazing upon her with earnestness. ‘‘ Come now, pause and reflect. I know the purity of your nature, I know the delicacy of your mind, and if anything should transpire at all calculated to shock you —”’ “Set at rest these apprehensions,’ said the duchess; “I beseech you to banish them from your mind. Oh, so far from shrinking at the task which I am undertak- ing, I accept it with cheerfulness, for I may perhaps EGOMINGIOOKS (CO)