The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

20 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “The very lowest, ma’am,’”’ and the shopman began to look eager, for he perceived that there was a chance of her being a purchaser, but he also feared lest she should slip through his hands. Mrs. Oxenden examined the diamonds more closely, and all the other personages present looked on with interest, for they lhkewise thought that a purchaser was found at last. The door opened, Colonel and Mrs. Tressilian re- appeared, and at that very instant Mrs. Oxenden said to the shopman, “ I will give you your price for the diamonds; they are mine.” ‘Oh, how unfortunate! ’’ was the involuntary ejacula- tion which burst from Mrs. Tressilian’s lips, and the mean- ing of which may be explained to the effect that the pro- prietor of the establishment had Just stepped out, but was expected to return in a few minutes, when Colonel Tressilian, in order to gratify his wife, would have been prepared to meet his demand. All eyes were turned from Mrs. Oxenden toward Mrs. Tressilian, who with the twofold vexation of disappoint- ment, and of having betrayed it, could not prevent the tears from forcing their way. Nothing could exceed the annoyance of Colonel Tressilian himself, when Mrs. Ox- enden darted a look of haughty triumph upon him and of contemptuous pity upon his wife. The colonel grew pale and bit his lips with concentrated rage; then turning sud- denly on his heel, he led his wife forth from the room. Mrs. Oxenden accompanied the shopman to the counting- house, the proprietor of the establishment having just re- turned. He was by no means prepared to trust a stranger with such a costly amount of property, nor even to send the diamonds to her house without previous payment. Nor did she choose to expose herself to the humiliation of a refusal on the point. She therefore desired that he would send the. bill in an envelope to his Grace the Duke of March- mont, and she intimated that it would be paid on presenta- tion. The Jeweller bowed, and attended the lady forth to her carriage. He now comprehended that she was a duke’s mistress, but it was no concern of his, so long as the bill was paid, of which he entertained not the slightest doubt. And the bill was paid, and the diamonds were sent home to Mrs. Oxenden. But the Duke of Marchmont was as- Gomicsdooks (E()