The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XVI TERROR Ir was a wonder that Lady Ernestina did not drop the candle from her hand, but perhaps it was the convulsing horror that seized upon her entire frame that made her fingers grasp it with a spasmodic rigidity. Scarcely had she caught that glimpse of the Hangman, when he glided suddenly behind a curtain close by the door; and when he had thus disappeared from her view, Ernes- tina breathed more freely again. Terror loosened the iron erasp which it had fastened upon her, and she experienced a sudden relief on observing that the dreadful man was not coming to accost her then and there. Calling all her presence of mind to her aid, she turned slowly and in a leisurely manner from the mirror, and took a seat in one of the superb chairs which were placed at intervals along the gallery. These chairs, be it understood, were not provided with any treacherous mechanism, and Ernestina thus sat down, not so much to collect her thoughts as be- cause the sudden terror she had just experienced made her limbs feel heavy, and had stricken her as it were with the numbness of sore fatigue. Placing the candle upon the pedestal of a statue, she leaned her head upon her beautiful white hand, wondering within herself what on earth the Hangman could possibly be doing within the walls of Leveson House again. That he had come not to seek her was pretty evident, inasmuch as he had just concealed himself behind a curtain, doubtless imagining that his presence and proceeding were not per- ceived in the mirror. Then, what was he doing there? Had he come to rob the house? Or was he in any way engaged in the intrigue which her uncle had in hand for that night? 144 CoOnnicloooks (E(@)