The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

CLOSE OF THE TRIBUNAL 167 complishing signal deeds this night. Know ye all who listen to me, that Bertram Vivian, now a prisoner in a felon’s gaol in London, is innocent of that foul crime of murder which is charged against him, and under the imputation of which his good name has suffered for so many, many long years. It was not by his hand that his late uncle perished; the hand which dealt the assassin blow was that of him who has ever since usurped the title of Duke of Marchmont.”’ To Madame Angelique this fact was previously known; by Wilson Stanhope it had been for some time more than half-suspected. Mrs. Oxenden, Amy Sutton, and the Burker were likewise but little astonished to hear the announce- ment that was just made. “Yes,” continued Queen Indora, ‘“‘ innocence is made apparent and guilt is exposed, the usurper is dispossessed of the title which he had so long fraudulently borne, and his ducal coronet will henceforth be worn by him to whom it descends as a lawful heritage. I allude not to Bertram Vivian. Most of you, if not all, are acquainted with the name of Christian Ashton, and that excellent, high-minded, well-principled youth is now Duke of Marchmont.”’ Well as the listeners were prepared for the previous an- nouncement, yet utterly unexpected by them was the in- telligence that had just fallen upon their ears. Astonish- ment was depicted upon their countenances, but there was at least one amongst them who was rejoiced at the good fortune of our young hero, and this was Amy Sutton. ‘It now only remains for me,’’ continued Queen Indora, “to announce my intentions to some who are here present, and to address a few parting words to the others. For the remainder of this night you will all be reconsigned to the places which you have respectively occupied since you be- came the inmates of Oaklands, and to-morrow you will all individually depart hence. Let me hope that the solemn scene which you, Mr. Stanhope, have this night beheld, will have upon you a salutary effect, and that henceforth you will strive by some honourable means to earn your livelihood, instead of selling yourself as the instrument of wrong-doing and crime for patrician gold. That your hand is not stained with murder’s blood must rather be attributed to accidental circumstances than to a positive absence of a most criminal readiness on your part, for on the night when COnnICLOOoOKS (©)