The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

156 THE COURT OF LONDON ing-room, in obedience to his lordship’s order. When this was done and the valet had retired, both the marquis and Ernestina bent their looks with evident anxiety upon the baronet for an explanation of his proceedings, but they were still more amazed, and likewise alarmed, when Hunting- don advanced toward the door opening into the mysterious suite of apartments. Finding it locked, — for the Hangman had fastened it again on passing that way ere now, — the baronet said, in a voice which showed that he meant to be obeyed, *‘ Your lordship will be pleased to open this door.” ‘For what purpose? ’’ asked the nobleman, trembling with the very vagueness of his apprehensions. But a mortal terror now seized upon Lady Ernestina, for the thought instantaneously flashed to her mind that the presence of Daniel Coffin in that suite of apartments was most probably connected with the present proceeding of Sir Douglas Huntingdon. Perceiving, however, the necessity of maintaining her presence of mind for any emergency that might transpire, she exerted all her moral strength to subdue her agonizing emotions and become equal to the ordeal through which it seemed as if she were doomed to pass. “The key, my lord!” ejaculated Huntingdon, impet- ‘uously. ‘‘ Wherefore persist in thus wasting valuable time? ”’ Without giving utterance to another word either of remonstrance or remark, Lord Leveson at once produced the key and opened the door. “Now let us walk in,” said the baronet, leading the way into the first room of that mysterious suite, — not the room, be it understood, containing the mechanical chairs, but the one luxuriously furnished with sofas arranged all around against the walls in the Oriental fashion. Having brought one of the wax candles in his hand trom the Crimson Drawing-room, Sir Douglas proceeded to light those which stood on the mantel of this elegantly furnished apartment; and observing that the door into the next room of the suite stood open, he so held the light for a moment as to enable him to plunge his looks across that room, so as to ascertain that the door at the extremity leading into the gallery was likewise opened. These obser- vations he made with inward satisfaction, for he felt confident Gomicbooks (eo)