The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

CHRISTIAN AND ALEXIS 137 ‘¢ Perhaps, sir, you will come to the point,’’ said Stanhope, ‘for I hate enigmas.”’ ‘You must know, then,’’ proceeded Christian, “‘ that you are so completely in my power that you will presently go hence with me to a place whither I propose to conduct you, or, on the other hand, you will take your departure in the custody of an officer of justice.”’ Stanhope started and turned very pale, for, as the reader may suppose, his conscience was none of the purest, and there was more than one misdeed at which words so ominously vague might probably point. ‘“‘ It may perhaps be sufficient,’ continued Christian, ‘‘ to allude to a certain visit of yours to Oaklands — ”’ ‘Oh, if that’s your game,’’ ejaculated Stanhope, with a sudden feeling of relief as well as with accents of scorn, “ I can afford to laugh at it, and perhaps at the same time chastise you for your impertinence in daring to deal in men- acing language with me. The story is too old, Mr. Ashton. The duke is not in a condition to say a word upon the subject, the duchess does not want it revived, and your simple testi- mony in a court of justice would be utterly valueless. What on earth your motive can be in furbishing up an old weapon, I cannot conceive — ” ‘“‘ Be not so hasty, Mr. Stanhope,” interrupted our hero; ‘“‘ you and I are alluding to two different things. I was not for a moment thinking of that visit of yours to Oaklands when, as a conspirator against the reputation and the happi- ness of an innocent lady, your base designs were frustrated.” ‘Then what do you allude to?” inquired Stanhope, now turning pale once more, for something beyond a mere sus- picion of the truth naturally flashed to his mind. ‘IT allude to another visit, Mr. Stanhope, which you paid to Oaklands,’’ and Christian fixed his fine dark eyes signifi- cantly upon the conscience-stricken man. ‘‘ You perceive therefore, that it is a visit of a more recent date.”’ ‘““ Well, and what then? ”’ demanded Stanhope, endeavour- ing to assume an air of bravado and defiance. ‘‘ Suppose that I went down to dine and pass the night at Oaklands, is there anything very extraordinary, considering the terms of intimacy on which I have been with the duke? ”’ “A horrible intimacy, Mr. Stanhope,’ replied Christian, impressively, ‘‘ the intimacy of crime.” _ 9) CoOnniclooolkKks (S©)