The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

THE WITNESSES 157 against you now, if her Majesty command me to speak out.” ‘“‘ Let us hear the prisoner to the end,’’ said Queen Indora, in the cold, firm voice of authority. “Next to your Majesty,” continued the Duke of March- mont, ‘‘ sits a female who admits that she has lost her virtue, and that she has no claim to rank amongst the modest of her sex. It is easy for one who has been a willing paramour to turn around upon him whom in the world’s canting lan- guage she calls her seducer, and disappointed because I have not lavished gold upon her and established her in a pa- latial mansion as my acknowledged mistress, she is ready in her vindictive spirit to heap false calumnies upon my head.” ‘Villain that you are,’’ exclaimed Amy Sutton, her cheeks flushing with rage and indignation, and her eyes flashing fire, ““ you know that I rejected your overtures with scorn and contempt, and that you triumphed over me by the basest of satanic arts. But Heaven be thanked, the day of your doom is arrived, and I am present to witness your down- fall.”’ ‘Let the prisoner proceed,” said Queen Indora, again speaking in the voice of coldly calm authority. ‘“‘ Turning to your Majesty’s left hand,’’ continued March- mont, ‘‘ I behold seated next to you a woman who lives upon her profligacy; and think you for a moment that the word of such a wretch would have the slightest weight with a jury of my countrymen in a legitimate court of justice? Let her proclaim her antecedents, let her character be unmasked as her face has ere now been unveiled, and who would attach the remotest credence to a syllable flowing from such pol- luted lips? ”’ “‘ It is easy to use harsh epithets, my lord,’”’ exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, her dark eyes flashing lightning even more vivid than those which the eyes of Amy Sutton had shot forth, “‘ but abuse is not argument, and the testimony against you would be already overwhelming were you not borne up by that very desperation which compels you to struggle unto the last.’ “As for the villain who is seated next,’ continued the duke, his eyes now settling upon the Burker, ‘ the gaol yawns for him, and it were an insult to any jury in this country to produce the testimony of such a man.” GomiilGaooks (SO)