The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 129: what you’re looking at

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108 REYNOLDS’ WORKS if possible, on Marchmont’s head. She resolved to succour me. For some weeks has she been living under the pro- tection of Wilson Stanhope, toward whom she has displayed every evidence of affection; she has lavished her caresses upon him, she has insidiously assailed him with cajoleries, she has adopted every means to win his completest confi- dence. I need not tell you that he is dissipated, that he is addicted to wine, and that his habits are often intemper- ate. Thus has she succeeded in gleaning from him certain secrets of the utmost importance, but of which I myself am still unaware, for with a becoming prudence she would not entrust them to an epistolary correspondence. That these secrets, however, would be ruinous to the Duke of Marchmont if made known, I have not the slightest doubt. I was cradling myself in the hopes of a speedy vengeance when the intelligence reached me of the vile duke’s serious illness, an illness which methought might end fatally. And I was striving hard to regain sufficient health and strength to repair to London to see my sister, and ascertain from her lips all that she had gleaned from Stanhope in the moments of his ebriety, or when he was under the influence of her cajoling blandishments.”’ . ‘You have told me sufficient, Amy,’’ replied Christian, who had listened with the deepest attention to the young woman’s narrative, ‘‘ to decide me how to act.” “But there is one stipulation which I must make,” ejaculated Amy, with a sudden access of fierce excitement, “and it is that whatsoever vengeance you wreak upon the Duke of Marchmont — ” ‘‘ Understand me well,’’ interrupted Christian. ‘It is no vengeance which we are endeavouring to wreak; it is an attempt to expose his iniquity throughout all its various ramifications, and, as I before said, to make the right come uppermost. All his crimes shall be made to pass like a hideous phantasmagoria of spectres before his eyes, and those who have been the accomplices or the witnesses of his several deeds of turpitude shall be marshalled in dread testimony against him. On that occasion, Amy, you shall be present.”’ | ‘This is what I require,’”’ ejaculated the young woman; “it is for this that I was about to stipulate. Make use of me as you will, but remember, Mr. Ashton, you pledge Gomiuicbdoc “S (E()