The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

THE SAFE AND THE CASH-BOX 317 for the festivity, but he still lingered at Tudor House, in order to breathe one last farewell in Christina’s ear. He seized this opportunity just before her departure with her brother. “God bless you, Christina!’’ he said, taking her hand and for a moment pressing it fervidly. The look that he flung was full of unutterable emotions, and for an instant — but only for an instant — her own courage seemed to be giving way within her. But the next moment it was regained, and she hastily whispered, ‘ Re- member, my lord, it is in your power to achieve Zoe’s happiness for the remainder of the time that God may permit her to dwell upon this earth.’’ Christina then quickly turned away, and taking her brother’s arm, proceeded with him to the carriage, for their adieux had already been paid to Sir Frederick and Lady Anastatia. We have said that several of the guests took their de- parture about the same time, immediately after supper. Amongst these were Viscount Rushbrook, for, contrary to his usual habit, he remained not to take his fill of the delicious wines which were placed upon the boards. In spite of his mingled flippancy and recklessness, he felt uneasy; that countenance haunted him, yet dimly, vaguely, and impalpably, for, as we have already said, he had not the slightest idea of the individual’s features, no definite notion of the lineaments of that face. It was the Queen Indora’s carriage which had brought Christian and Christina to Tudor House, and we must here observe that the groom happening to be ill, the coachman only was in attendance upon the equipage. It was the first carriage to issue from the grounds of Tudor House, and while it was proceeding along Christina was relating to her brother everything that had passed between herself and Lord Octavian Meredith. All of a sudden the carriage stopped, and the coachman shouted out, ‘‘ Now then, my man, what is it that you want? ”’ A rough voice, speaking what appeared to be broken English, implored that whoever might be inside the carriage would give alms to an unfortunate Lascar sailor. The coachman gave vent to an ejaculation of impatience, and was on the very point of urging the horses on again, when EGOMIIGIOOKS (CO)