The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER X CHRISTIAN AND ALEXIS It was about three o’clock in the afternoon of the same day, and Christian Ashton was alighting from a cab at the door of Mrs. Macaulay’s house in Mortimer Street. He had just returned from Newgate, whither he had been to pay his usual visit to Lord Clandon. Scarcely had he dismissed the cab, when he beheld a person hastening toward him, and he at once recognized Alexis Oliver. The countenance of the young man expressed the most fiery indignation, and Chris- tian immediately suspected that this evidence of rage was connected with the proceedings of the previous night. He therefore assumed a calmly dignified demeanour, and thus awaited the explosion of Alexis Oliver’s fury. ‘“‘ Mr. Ashton,’’ exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden’s paramour, ‘‘ you are a villain! ”’ ‘“‘ Perhaps it would be better, sir,’’ replied our hero, “‘ that we should avoid a disturbance in the open street. Be so kind as to follow me up-stairs; we shall be alone together, and to whatsoever you may say I shall doubtless be prepared to give an answer.” Alexis accordingly accompanied Christian up to the sitting- room; the latter closed the door, and then said, ‘‘ I see, Mr. Oliver, that you know who I am, but I beg you to under- stand that I have no reason to regret or to be ashamed of my proceedings of last night. Where there are high and important duties to be performed, the most honourable character will condescend to a little dissimulation, and really, after all, it does not strike me that you have much to com- plain of.’’ | “Tf, Mr. Ashton,” rejoined Oliver, “‘ you would throw in my teeth the pecuniary obligation — ”’ 129 GOMIIIGDOG SS (C(O)