The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 386: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXVI DOCTOR DUPONT’S ESTABLISHMENT Ar a distance of about two miles from Geneva there stood a large white building upon the slope of an eminence, situ- ated in the midst of spacious pleasure-grounds, and com- manding a beautiful view of Lake Leman. Those pleasure- grounds were surrounded by a very high wall, and the iron gates at the entrance-lodge were always kept carefully shut, opening only for the purpose of egress or ingress. The man- sion had evidently been enlarged at different times, and seemed far too extensive for the private residence of even a family possessing enormous wealth. In short, this estab- lishment of which we are speaking was a private lunatic asylum. In one of the many chambers which the establishment contained two young ladies were seated near the barred window, gazing vacantly forth upon the prospect without. They were well dressed, and the chamber itself was hand- somely furnished. Vases of flowers made the air fragrant, fruits and decanters of crystal water were upon the central table. There were musical instruments, books, and pictures scattered about, but in no unseemly disorder; and an alcove, or very large recess at one extremity of the apartment, contained three couches. Near the door an elderly female, stout in person and very strongly built, was seated. She was engaged in reading a book, but from time to time she glanced toward the two young ladies at the window, evi- dently to observe what they were doing. The reader has doubtless already guessed that the two young ladies referred to were Agatha and Julia Owen. Through the generosity of the Princess of Wales, who had not merely studied, but likewise practised the divine maxim 360 - comicbooks (CO in