The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

332 THE COURT OF LONDON with all the mysteries which they contain; and this will not be highly creditable to you. Moreover, if I discover that anything outrageous or vile is now passing in those rooms, I shall be justified in setting you down as the accessory and the accomplice.” Ernestina fell crushed and annihilated upon a chair, burying her face in her hands; for it appeared to her as if her whole heart was suddenly laid bare in its boundless depravity to the view of that man who addressed her in a tone of such haughty confidence, stern remonstrance, and terrible menace. * The baronet, having thus silenced and subdued that lady whose complicity in her uncle’s licentious proceedings was now too evident, lost no time in opening the door leading into the secret apartments, and which Ernestina had ere now left unlocked after conducting Louisa thither. Meantime the Marquis of Leveson, perceiving that Louisa Stanley was rapidly losing her consciousness, and that she was indeed fainting in that chair which so treacherously held her captive, stood for a few moments gloating upon the charms of which he hoped so soon to become the master. Her head hung down upon her bosom, of which his lustful eyes caught a slight glimpse; and the bands, clasping her shoulders, held her back in such a manner that, though her charming head thus drooped like a flower on its tall slender stalk, yet her form was retained upright in the chair. There- fore his gaze could slowly wander over the graceful symmetry and virgin contours of that exquisite shape, — a shape that possessed all the light and airy elegance of the sylph, with just sufficient fulness to denote that the last stage of girl- hood was bursting into the luxuriant bloom and ripeness oi womanhood. But just at the moment when the Marquis of Leveson fancied that our heroine was sinking into a profound insen- sibility, and while all his detestable passions were boiling up to a frenzied degree at what appeared to be the close consummation of his diabolical project, just at the instant, in fact, that he believed himself to be touching on his crown- ing infamy, Louisa appeared to be startled suddenly back to full consciousness. Raising her head, she gazed for a moment, a single moment, CONNIE OO! KS (E(0)