The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

180 REYNOLDS’ WORKS © such a disturbance must more or less regard his own official functions. Suddenly the door of the library burst open, and Lucilla, rushing in, exclaimed, ‘‘ Oh, my lady, thieves — robbers — burglars — murderers — in the tapestry rooms! ”’ Lady Saxondale’s vague suspicion was thus confirmed in a moment, and she grew pale as death. That she should do so, appeared by no means unnatural either to Lucilla or the constable, considering the announcement which was thus abruptly made; but little did they comprehend the real reason which she had for being so affrighted. “Thieves? ”’ ejaculated the officer, and he sprang to the door. Lady Saxondale, quickly recovering her self-possession, or, rather, startled into it by the sudden consciousness of some new and frightful danger, sprang after the constable. They hurried up the staircase. On the landing and in one of the diverging corridors some of the servants were speeding along. Edmund and Adelaide, previously alarmed by the cries, had issued forth from the drawing-room. | “ Whatisit? What isit?”’ they demanded, as if speaking in one breath, and in a very excited manner, though perhaps the young nobleman was far more alarmed than his wife. “ Thieves!’ cried Lucilla, who had followed Lady Saxon- dale and the constable. ‘In the tapestry rooms, my lord! In the tapestry rooms, my lady!” ejaculated one of the footmen. “ The steward, the butler, and several others have shouted for assistance from the passage windows on the western side.”’ Edmund rushed back into the drawing-room, snatched up a poker, and coming forth again, followed the rest toward the tapestry rooms, taking good care, however, to be as much in the rear as possible, for, as the reader is al- ready aware, he was very far from being the bravest person in existence. As for Adelaide, she, much more courageous, had fallen into the stream, keeping pace with the constable and her mother-in-law. From this hurried description, an idea may be formed of the confusion and excitement which prevailed; and when we add that several of the servants carried lights in their hands, which flamed and oscillated as they were borne rapidly along, it may be well conceived that the spectacle CONNIE IOOL KS m