The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

124 REYNOLDS’ WORKS of circumstances as peculiar as they are terrible. It is a secret tribunal, if you will, an inquisition, but still a court where the claims of justice will be paramount, where wrong shall be exposed and right shall be rendered triumphant. Now, madam, it is to this solemn tribunal that I adjure your presence, and if you refuse to accompany me, you must take the consequences.”’ Mrs. Oxenden experienced a deep and unknown terror at the language which flowed from the lawyer’s lips, and though in the midst of the nineteenth century, dwelling in a city which is the centre of modern civilization, in a room where she had but to stretch forth a hand to make the bell summon domestic servants to her assistance, or where she need but throw up the window and invoke the aid of the first passing constable to protect her against coercion, yet did she feel as if she had been suddenly carried back through the vista of past centuries into the gloomy profound of those middle ages when the public laws were set at nought and individuals were cited by irresistible summons to appear in the presence of the dread secret tribunals. No wonder, therefore, that solemn awe and vague, numbing terror seized upon this woman whose conscience was so far from pure, and no wonder that she, with her all natural strength of mind, should tremble and feel dismayed in the presence of that solicitor who appeared conscious of the power which he wielded over her! ‘But for me, sir, for me,” she faltered forth, ‘‘ is there any peril to be risked? is there any punishment to be in- curred? ”’ ‘Not if you obey me with readiness,”’ replied Mr. Cole- man. ‘‘ And the tribunal,’ said Mrs. Oxenden, — ‘‘ whom is it to try?’”’ But though she put the question, she more than half-suspected what the answer might be, if it were given at all. “It is not for you to question me thus,’’ responded Mr. Coleman. ‘“ Suffice it for you to know that the Duke of Marchmont was guilty of a heinous crime in instigating a miscreant to take the life of an Eastern lady of exalted rank; but, as you are aware, the assassin blow was dealt at the bosom of another. Of that crime, madam, you have had a horrible consciousness; it is this that has given you your ) Gomicbooks (E(©)