The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

152 THE COURT OF LONDON angel,’’ replied the prince, caressing her. ‘‘ We will return to the drawing-room, since you desire it; but we must retrace our way through your uncle’s chambers.”’ ‘“ By what means did that dreadful man obtain access to these rooms, I wonder?” said Ernestina, the thought now striking her for the first time. ‘“‘ By aid of a skeleton key, he tells me,’’ answered the prince; “and I have doubt his intention was to rob the house. But we will not trouble ourselves any more about him; he will be useful to us, and that is sufficient. Come, let us retrace our way to the drawing-room.” The prince accordingly led Ernestina back into the adjoining apartment, where the Hangman was now walking to and fro to stretch his limbs, which were horribly cramped by his long prisonage in the treacherous chair. Opening the secret door, by pressing his hand on one of the roses that formed the pattern of the paper, his Royal Highness and Ernestina once more gained the dressing-room. The secret door was carefully closed again; and from the dressing- room they passed into the bedchamber. But, to tell the truth, they paused there awhile; and nearly another half-hour elapsed ere they returned into the Crimson Drawing-room. Then the lady’s cheeks were flushed, and her eyes swam in a softly sensuous languor, while the countenance of the prince was radiant with satis- faction and triumph. Alas! Venetia was still forgotten by the royal voluptuary. ‘‘ Farewell for the present, my charmer,” he said, straining Ernestina to his breast. ‘“‘ We shall soon meet again, — the sooner the better.” “That depends entirely on yourself, my dear George,”’ whispered the lady, in her soft musical tones, and with a look that was in itself a whole world of blandishments. The prince now took his departure, and Ernestina, having ordered the carriage, ascended to her own chamber to dress for going out. CONNIE OO KS (EO) m