The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

10 REYNOLDS’ WORKS tread of her footsteps as she bent her way toward the private door, which, as well as the other details of her route, had been accurately described by the Duke of Marchmont. On reaching that door, she gave three gentle taps, and it was immediately opened by the duke himself. She entered; he closed the door, and conducted her into a little room opening from a passage. Here a light was burning, and he made her sit down and rest herself for a few minutes. He drew the cork of a champagne-bottle, and the exhilarating influence of the wine cheered her spirits to an extent that she resolved to keep silent as to the circumstances which had affrighted her during her walk from the farmhouse. She now, by the duke’s bidding, took off her bonnet and cloak, and she appeared in one of the dresses which had come down in the box. “It is most fortunate,” said Marchmont, ‘‘ that her Grace wore the exact counterpart of that dress this evening. Now take the veil from the bonnet and just throw it over your head, so as to shade your countenance and cover the hair.”’ | These instructions were obeyed, and the duke said, “ You must follow me on tiptoe. We shall not take the candle with us, but there will be light enough through the windows of the staircase and passages to enable you to see your way.” The duke conducted Lettice Rodney up the private stair- case along a passage; then they threaded another corridor, thus reaching the extremity of the building, which was far- thest from the one whence they had come. “‘ Here,” said the duke, and gently tapping at a door, it was instantaneously opened by the Honourable Wilson Stanhope. Lettice passed in, and the duke hastened away. | The principal lady’s-maid of the Duchess of Marchmont was a young woman named Amy Sutton. She was tall and handsome, about four and twenty years of age, and of very excellent character. She was, however, of a cold disposition, which often merged into a morose sullenness when with her fellow servants, though she had never any occasion to display her humours in the presence of her mistress. She was selfish, worldly-minded, and calculating, exceedingly fond of money, but with a certain pride, rather than principle, which pre- vented her from stooping to any underhand or immoral COnnicloOokxS.COly