The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUKE AND HIS MISTRESS 23 “She knows it! she knows it!”’ exclaimed the wretched nobleman. — “ Well, she may know it,” proceeded Mrs. Oxenden, rising from her seat, and bending her looks menacingly upon the cowering duke, “‘ but the tribunal of justice does not know it. She may have her reasons for sparing you. The law would have none. Oh, you are so completely in my power, dare you play the niggard? Dare you grudge me these paltry thousands which are a reward so well earned for keeping your secret?” ‘‘ Enough, I beseech you to say no more!’ exclaimed the duke. ‘‘ We shall understand each other better for the future. Pray forget that I remonstrated at all.” ‘Tt am perfectly willing that we should be good friends again,’ said Mrs. Oxenden, with the patronizing air of an imperious mistress bestowing her forgiveness, ‘‘ but re- member, I must hear no more of these remonstrances when I take it into my head to spend a few pounds.” The Duke of Marchmont, finding himself utterly beaten, and that Mrs. Oxenden was resolved to wield her power most despotically over him, thought that the best course he could adopt was to conciliate instead of irritating. He accordingly made all kinds of promises in accordance with the lady’s humour, and he took his departure, inwardly anathematizing himself for having woven a tangled web of crime which day by day and hour by hour was enmeshing him more and more. | The Duke of Marchmont had not long issued from Mrs. Oxenden’s house when an old gentleman knocked at the front door. When the summons was answered by a footman in gorgeous livery, this old gentleman said, ‘“‘ Is Mrs. Oxen- den at home? ”’ “She is, sir,’ was the answer. ‘‘ What name shall I announce? ”’ “What name?” echoed he old Elen nervously. “No matter. Be good enough to introduce me to Mrs. Oxenden’s presence. I —I— knew her at Brighton.’’ The footman had no orders to refuse admittance to any visitor; he of course comprehended that the mistress whom he served was mistress in another sense to the Duke of — Marchmont, and he thought this old gentleman, having known her previously, might possibly have very good COnNICLOOKS (S©@)