The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 356: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAMB AMONGST THE WOLVES — 325 ‘With your permission,” said Louisa to Lady Ernestina, the moment the servant had retired, ‘‘ I will now ascend to my chamber and prepare for departure.”’ ‘“‘T will join you there in a few moments, Louisa,’’ was the reply, ‘‘ to see whether I can be of service to you, since you are determined to quit us.” Louisa Stanley then left the room; and the moment the door closed behind her, the marquis addressed himself in hurried and excited terms to his niece. “ Krnestina,”’ he said, “‘ you explained to me this morning how, during my absence in France, a ruffian introduced himself into this house, and how he concealed himself in my secret suite of apartments. You likewise confessed to me how you and the prince proceeded thither, and how you found that burglarious villain held captive in one of my mechanical chairs. You further told me how this man turned out to be the public executioner, and how the prince, with a heavy bribe, ensured his services to buoy up Dysart till the very last moment with the hope of a reprieve.”’ ‘‘ But wherefore, in the name of Heaven, recapitulate all these details? ’’ exclaimed Ernestina, surveying her uncle with astonishment. ‘“‘ Because,’ he responded, in a hoarse, thick voice, as if the profound concentration of a burning passion was impelling him into extremes at which he trembled and was airaid, and forcing him to hold a language to his own niece at which he was both ashamed and shocked, ‘‘ because,” he said, “‘ since you have chosen to enter those rooms for your own pleasure, you may now revisit them for mine; and because, since you found seated in one of those chairs a man who afterward helped to rid you of a detested husband, you may now inveigle into that same chair this young girl on whom I have set my heart.”’ ‘“ But, good heavens! ”’ cried Ernestina, ‘‘ she is too pure, too innocent, and this outrage cannot be perpetrated with impunity.” “ Do not reason with me,”’ cried her uncle, impetuously. “ You see that she is escaping from my toils, she is bent upon leaving us, she evidently suspects something, and it is only by clipping the angel-wings of her innocence that we can prevent this startled dove from flying away.” “ Well, be it as you will,” said Ernestina. ‘‘ You doubtless COM (-) LOOKS (CO)