The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

102 THE COURT OF LONDON Not many minutes was Lord Sackville kept waiting, for the side door was presently opened, and forth came a lady enveloped in the ample cloak and the thick veil belonging to Gertrude. The moment she stepped into the vehicle, Sack- ville ordered the coachman to drive to Oxford Street, and as the man hastened to obey the instructions thus given, Horace and Editha commenced the hurried conversation which we are about to record. But we must pause for one single moment to observe that as the hackney-coach rumbled away out of the narrow street, a young man, who had hitherto remained concealed in a doorway a little farther down, and who had been intently watching what was taking place, emerged forth from his concealment and followed in the track of the vehicle. We now return to the tender pair who are ensconced inside the hackney-coach which the young man was thus pursuing. ‘““ My dear friend,’’ said the countess, throwing up the veil and exchanging fervid kisses with her paramour, “ a crisis has now arrived.”’ “Ah! your husband, the earl? ”’ said Sackville, throwing his arms around her and drawing her close to him as the hackney-coach rumbled along. ‘“T have received a letter from him to say that he will be home to-morrow evening,’ continued Editha. “‘ The letter was brought by hand. It was sent through his banker, or lawyer, I suppose — ”’ “When did you receive it?” asked Lord Sackville, quickly. “This evening, at about nine o’clock,” returned Editha. “And whence is it dated? ”’ “ From Dover. It says that he has returned home through Belgium, by way of Ostend.”’ “And he intimates that he shall be home to-morrow night? ”’ asked Sackville, in a voice which showed that some unpleasant misgiving had sprung up in his mind. “Yes, to-morrow night,’ responded Editha. “ The letter states that he is so ill through seasickness experienced during a rough passage from Ostend to Dover that he is compelled to remain a day at the latter place — ”’ ‘“ Editha,” interrupted Lord Sackville, in a tone of alarm, ‘we are betrayed by some means or another; treachery is infeaded,” | ° CORNICLIOO KS (E(0)