The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE DRAMA OF A NIGHT 29 tumbler of water over the priming, so that the weapons might not serve any further purpose of coercion. At the same moment the sounds of a vehicle approaching up the acclivitous street reached their ears, and hastening each to a separate window, they beheld the expected post- chaise drive up to the door of the hotel. By the light of the street-lamps they observed two female figures alight from the interior of the carriage, and turning away from the casements, they fixed their eyes upon the room door, so as to be ready to welcome (as they thought) the fair ones whom they had caused to be so forcibly carried off. In a couple of minutes that door was thrown open, and Kobolt made his appearance, exclaiming, “ Now, at all events, ladies, any doubt upon the subject will be cleared up, and you shall see who 1s right.”’ ) ‘Cleared up— heavens! what does this mean?” ex- claimed the Earl of Curzon, as his eyes encountered two female forms which, though cloaked and veiled, were assuredly not those of Emma and Julia Owen. Mrs. Ranger and Mrs. Hubbard at once threw up their veils, thus revealing their own antique and repulsive coun- tenances, instead of the youthful and attractive features of the two charming sisters. ‘“ Perdition!’ ejaculated the Earl of Curzon. ‘‘ What mistake, what treachery is this? ”’ “These precious hags,”’ cried Malpas, ‘‘ are but poor substitutes — ”’ 3 “There!” shrieked forth Mrs. Ranger, in accents of | furious indignation, as she bent her looks upon Kobolt, speaking also in the French tongue, ‘‘ I told you over and over again during the ride hither that there was some fearful mistake.”’ “Then the error rests not with me,” replied the man, curtly, “for I followed the instructions I received to the very letter.” “ Yes,” added his two companions, who had followed close behind up into the apartment of the hotel, “ these - women were caught in the villa-gardens, each just where we had been led to expect them.”’ “ My lord,” Mrs. Ranger now hastened to observe, — for she knew the Ear! of Curzon full well by sight, — ‘‘ one CORNICLOOL Ss (CO) im