The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

200 THE COURT OF LONDON side the cupboard door was pasted a paper of references, and Jocelyn speedily understood that the use of those embalmed heads was for the study of phrenology or crani- ology, in pursuance of the systems of Gall and Spurzheim, at that time engaging the attention of many learned and scientific men in Europe. A person of Jocelyn’s good sense could not, of course, feel any antipathy toward Doctor Maravelli for having in his possession these accessories to a most interesting study. On the contrary, his good opinion of the physician as an’ intellectual man was considerably enhanced, and again did he long to peer into that book which was so well secured with the great brazen clasps. But no, he would not thus violate the sanctity of a volume which might be in manu- script and not in print, and therefore doubly sacred. Indeed, he began to feel that he was guilty of an offence in even lingering in this chamber upon the mysteries of which he had intruded. But then, ‘he had not found the door locked, and it was therefore evident, or at least might be presumed, that Doctor Maravelli did not consider the place as the depository of any important secrets, however well furnished it might be with curiosities. Issuing forth from this chamber and closing the door care- fully behind him, Jocelyn proceeded to the other door fac- ing the passage, and without hesitation he at once tried it. It opened, revealing an inner door covered with scarlet cloth. This our hero hkewise pushed open; and now he found himself in a drawing-room where a lamp was burning upon the table, and Mrs. Roberts was pacing to and fro, apparently in a very agitated manner. ‘Pardon me, madam, I am afraid I have kept you wait- ing,’ said Jocelyn, as, closing the two doors, he advanced into the spacious room, which, though well furnished, par- took of that same sombre aspect that characterized the entire establishment. ‘‘ The truth is, I mistook the apart- ment. Not perceiving a light glimmering through the key- hole or underneath the door — ”’ ‘Because of this inner door,’’ observed the lady. “I forgot to tell you, in the hurry of our discourse ere now, which door it was at the end of the passage that communi- cated with the drawing-room. The other, I believe, is the doctor’s lumber-room, for his chemical apparatus. I once EONMIELNOO KS (E(0)