The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

ALEXIS OLIVER: 123 » “My name is Coleman, madam,’ replied the visitor, “ and that name appears as the signature to the note. You surely can recollect that you have seen me before; you once called at my office on some affair relative to your husband — ” “ And you tell me, sir, in this note,’’ interrupted Mrs. Oxenden, ‘‘ that you require an immediate interview with me, that you bid me beware how I refuse it, that things have come to your knowledge which place me more in your power than I may probably suspect.” “ All this is true, madam,”’ rejoined the ‘solicitor, calmly, ‘“‘ and I repeat the same in your presence.” ‘ What — what do you mean?” faltered Mrs. Oxenden, becoming more and more frightened, as well as proportion- ably less able to conceal her terror, for she knew that Mr. Coleman was the solicitor engaged in the defence of Lord Clandon, and she liked as little as could be to find herself mixed up in any of the affairs which might more or less ominously regard the Duke of Marchmont. ‘““Tt has come to my knowledge, madam,”’ resumed Mr. Coleman, “‘that you are acquainted with a very serious offence committed by his Grace of Marchmont, and that you have not given such information as might tend to place him within the grasp of the law. To have the knowledge of a crime committed by another, and to remain silent on the subject, is to render oneself an accessory after the fact, which in itself, madam, is a heinous offence, and the penalty of which in the present instance is transportation.” The colour now completely fled from Mrs. Oxenden’s cheeks, and vain were all her efforts to appear calm and col- lected. She flung an appealing look upon the solicitor, and faltered forth, ‘‘ What would you, then, with me? ”’ ‘““T require you, madam,” replied Mr. Coleman, “ to ac- company me to a place at some little distance from London, and there you will have to give your testimony.” “A court of justice?’’ exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, with terror and dismay depicted upon her countenance. “ But I shall be branding myself — ”’ , She suddenly stopped short, and Mr. Coleman, fixing his gaze significantly upon her, said, in a solemn tone, “ Yes, it is a court of justice at which your presence is required, but it is not a court constituted according to the prevailing laws of this country; it is a court formed under the influence GOMIIGDOG SS) (S©)