The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

A VISIT TO HEADCORN 111 that the Burker was his instrument. And such has proved to be ae rane for the Burker ireerGay confessed every- thing. & AE ya ‘he eontésand?: 7 exclaimed Christian. ‘ Then oie cumstances are indeed favouring us.’ Do Me “They are favouring us in all oes? Eied Mr. Coleman. ‘I myself elicited everything from that villain’s lips yesterday, and I returned to London last night. It appears from what he stated that a lady overheard a certain discourse between himself and the Duke of Marchmont, soon after the assassin attempt was made upon Sagoonah’s life, and by the description, this lady is none other than Mrs. Oxenden.”’ ‘““Mrs. Oxenden?” ejaculated Christian. ‘‘ Ah! this accounts, then, for the intimacy which she formed with the duke, and which the other day came to your knowledge.”’ ‘“You perceive how we have been favoured,” said the lawyer, ‘“‘ by what the thoughtless crowd would term chance, but which the thinking man would call providence. Yes, Mrs. Oxenden has been the duke’s mistress, and her testi- mony may be serviceable. I have caused the strictest inquiries to be made into her mode of life, and I find her to be, as you yourself represented her, one of the most profli- gate of women. She maintains a paramour, a young man of exquisite personal beauty, but as thoroughly depraved as herself, and with whom she is completely infatuated. My knowledge of the world teaches me that where there is such infatuation on the part of a woman, there is likewise the completest confidence, and however cautious she may be in every other respect, however strong-minded in the pursuance of her own worldly interests, she is neverthe- less weak and foolish under the influence of that infatuation, and she reveals all secrets. We must therefore get Mrs. Oxenden into our power through the medium of this Alexis Oliver. It is for you, Christian, to form his acquaintance, and methinks I can arrange a plan by which you can render him a service, — a service whereby you may all the more effectually gain his confidence and secure a hold over him. But inasmuch as Mrs. Oxenden knows you and has little reason to like you, she would speak prejudicially of you to Oliver, and therefore in your dealings with him you must assume another name.”’ COnnNICLOOOKS (S©@)