The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

INTREPIDITY 83 ‘One minute, and I will return,’’ exclaimed the countess; and she quitted the room where this colloquy took ‘place. What she said to Emmerson on returning to him, or what they arranged between themselves during the few minutes that they hurriedly conversed while the countess finished dressing herself, matters not now. Suffice it to say that the infatuated bill-broker wrote her ladyship a check upon his banker for a couple of thousand pounds, and that she soon afterward quitted Mrs. Gale’s establishment in company with Gertrude. Back to Grosvenor Street did the lady and the lady’s- maid proceed together. The boudoir window was still open, and not a light was visible in any part of the house. That Gertrude’s flight had remained undiscovered was therefore evident, and that the ear! had retired to rest was presumable, if not certain. Editha and her maid descended the area steps and entered the house by means of a duplicate key of the servants’ door which her ladyship had in her possession. During the walk home from Soho Square they had determined what course to pursue. Most of the locks of the upper chambers were of pretty well the same pattern; and Gertrude had assured her mistress that several of the bedroom keys fitted each other’s doors, and that it was more than probable one of them would suit that of the boudoir. If this should prove to be the case, it was decided that the countess should take possession of the boudoir, so that the earl might be com- pletely astounded when he went thither with the idea of liberating Gertrude in the morning,— it being also hoped by the two artful women that this mystification would render him more pliant and accessible to any artifices that might be adopted to explain away the present suspicions. But, on the other hand, if no key could be found to open the boudoir, then it was resolved that the countess should pass the night in another chamber, and that all the rest should be left entirely to the chapter of accidents. Such were the plans deliberated upon and settled during the hurried twenty minutes’ walk from Soho Square to Grosvenor Street; and now that Editha and her faithful abigail were once more within the walls of Curzon House, the heart of each beat with acute suspense. They had to grope their way in the dark, not daring to run the risk of Cconniclooolks (C(O)