The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIII THE PRISONER IN THE CHAIR Art that ejaculation of terror the prince sprang forward from the dressing-room just in time to catch Lady Ernestina Dysart in his arms as she was recoiling from the hideous spectacle of that man whom she never saw nor thought of without associating him with the ghastly horrors of death and the grave; for the incidents of the night at the Black- heath villa were impressed on her brain as indelibly as if seared there with a red-hot iron. “Who the devil is this fellow? ” exclaimed the prince, the moment his looks lighted upon the Hangman; but the next instant he burst out into such an uncontrollable fit of laughter that all Ernestina’s terror vanished, and she glanced again toward the object of her aversion in order to discover the cause of her royal companion’s sudden jocularity. And now she saw what she had not at first perceived, namely, the ignominious as well as ludicrous manner in which Daniel Coffin was held captive in the chair; and a smile wavered upon her beauteous lips, despite the abhorrence and loathing which she entertained for that man. The whole truth flashed to her comprehension in a moment, for she was not so innocent nor so inexperienced as to remain long in doubt as to the real uses which that treacherous chair was intended to serve; and it likewise struck her that the Hangman, instead of leaving the house on the preceding evening, had stolen up into this suite of apart- ments and had fallen into a trap which her precious uncle was wont to set for a fairer and lovelier prey than that which it had now caught. On his side, the Hangman had instantaneously recognized the prince regent, whose person was no stranger to him; 145 COUN a LOOKS (CO)