The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

84 REYNOLDS’ WORKS the crowning mischief was accomplished. Therefore it was with intense anxiety that the queen awaited Mark’s return, and the instant she beheld him approaching through the grounds, she hurried forth to meet him. Though the faith- ful majordomo had intended to break the dreadful intelli- gence as delicately and gently as possible, yet he could not control the expression of his countenance, and the unspeak- able sadness that it wore at once convinced Indora that the very worst had happened. ‘“‘ Tell me instantaneously what has occurred,” she said. “ Delay not, — think not that you do me a service by study- ing my feelings. Your features betray the tale. I under- stand it all.” ‘‘ Alas, my lady,” said the faithful dependent, “ that I should be compelled to become the bearer of intelligence so frightful — ”’ ‘““Come in, Mark,” said the queen, details.”’ She had not shrieked, she had not swooned; she gave no vent to passionate lamentations, but there was something unnatural in her calmness. The strength of her mind was sustained by a hope which was the one barrier that separated her from utter despair. That hope was the eventual demon- stration of Lord Clandon’s innocence. | She conducted Mark into a room, where they were alone together, and he told her everything that had occurred. She listened without interrupting him, and when he had finished his narrative of the proceedings, she rose from her seat, say- ing, “‘ I will now go and comfort him in his prison.” ‘‘ Pardon me, my lady,” said Mark, “ but this evening it cannot be. The regulations of the prison will prevent it. Lord Clandon desired me to implore your ladyship to post- pone this visit until to-morrow, and then to repair thither under circumstances of the strictest privacy, so that your ladyship’s name may not become inconveniently involved.”’ ‘‘T understand,” said the queen; “it shall be for to- morrow. And now Mark, my faithful Mark, no time is to be lost in carrying out the plans which circumstances dictate. You must set off immediately for Oaklands, the country-seat of the Duke of Marchmont; you must privately obtain an interview with an old man named Purvis, and you must give him a letter which I am about to write.”’ ’ ‘and give me all the CORE OC <S (E(0)