The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUKE AND HIS MISTRESS 19 “Are they not beautiful?’ she heard Mrs. Tressilian whisper to her husband. ‘They are truly magnificent, my dear,’ responded the colonel in the same low tone. Mrs. Oxenden heard Mrs. Tressilian heave a profound sigh, which was full of longing covetousness, as she con- tinued to gaze upon the diamonds. “You know, my dear,’ continued the colonel, still speaking in a whisper, which he supposed to be audible only to his wife’s ears, ‘ nothing would afford me greater pleasure than to purchase those gems for you. I offered a cheque for seven thousand, as you well know, but it was refused, and I am sure you cannot wish me to go any higher? ”’ “No, certainly not,’’ rejoined his wife. ‘‘ But still —” and with another deep sigh she stopped short. ‘“T see that you are very anxious to have them,” proceeded the colonel, ‘‘ and it is no wonder. I tell you what I will do, my love. I will offer seven thousand five hundred for them, and I dare say the cheque to that amount will not be refused.” “Oh, how kind and good of you! ”’ answered his wife. ‘ I already consider them to be mine. And to confess the truth, I had so completely set my heart upon them — ”’ “ Now that you tell me this, I cannot possibly suffer you to be disappointed,’’ interjected Colonel Tressilian. ‘Come, let us go and give the jeweller his own price, what- ever it may be.” The eyes of the beautiful Mrs. Tressilian lighted up with ecstatic joy as she accompanied her husband from the show-room, neither having the remotest suspicion that any portion of their discourse had been overheard. Mrs. Oxen- den beheld the door close behind them, and a fiendish expression of triumph flashed in the depths of her large dark orbs. | “These diamonds are truly magnificent,’ she said to the shopman who had conducted her to the show-room. ‘“ Everybody has admired them, ma’am,’ he responded, ““and many offers have been made.”’ “What is the price?’”’ inquired Mrs. Oxenden. “Hight thousand guineas, ma’am,”’ was the shopman’s answer, “ with a discount of five per cent. for ready money.” “ And these are the lowest terms?” said the lady,. COnNICLOOKS (S©)