The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

126 REYNOLDS’ WORKS left her, and that she was compelled to proceed with him for a little distance into the country. Having given this ex- planation, she entered her boudoir to arrange her toilet for travelling, and almost immediately afterward Alexis Oliver made his appearance by means of a private staircase. Pale, languid, and suffering from the previous night’s de- bauch, the young gentleman by his aspect betrayed the dissipation in which he had indulged. Mrs. Oxenden at once perceived it, and she said, petulantly, “In spite of your promises, Alexis, you have relapsed into those ways that make you look horrible, instead of beautiful, as you ought to be.”’ ‘‘ Now, do not be angry, my dear creature,’”’ he exclaimed, at once plying her with cajoleries. ‘I fell in with some friends, and you know that a man is compelled to do as others do.”’ “Tam going away for a day or two, Alexis, — indeed, I know not exactly for how long,” said Mrs. Oxenden, ‘‘ and therefore I cannot find it in my heart to scold you.” ‘Going away? ” he ejaculated. ‘‘ And may not I accom- pany you? It is doubtless on some party of pleasure.”’ ‘‘ Of pleasure indeed! ”’ cried Mrs. Oxenden, with a sickly smile. “‘I fear that it will be very different. But I know not how it is; you have won all my confidence, I have kept no secrets from you, and I will tell you what has just oc- curred.”’ She then described the object of the lawyer’s visit, and recapitulated the greater portion of what he had said to her. It happened, however, that she did not mention him by name. A look of dismay gradually expanded over the beau- tiful but pale and dissipated countenance of Alexis; his reminiscences, which were previously all confused, began to settle themselves and to acquire lucidity. He retrospected over the proceedings of the previous night, and now he re- membered how the young gentleman whom he only knew as Mr. Craven had wormed out of him all the secrets he had learned from the lips of Mrs. Oxenden. He was shocked and frightened at his folly; he fancied that he himself was the author of all that was now occurring to Mrs. Oxenden, and the trouble of his mind was betrayed in his looks. ‘Good heavens, Alexis! ’’ she ejaculated, as a suspicion flashed across her brain, ‘‘ is it possible that in your tipsy CORNICE OOLKS (E()