The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

THE COFFIN o vulture-talons upon her brain, the door of the chamber opened, and she almost immediately heard the voices of the Marquis of Leveson and Sir Douglas Huntingdon. Yes, through the coffin, through the shell, through the cere- ments, penetrated those voices; and one sank down, deep down, into her heart. “ Who will accompany us?’’ inquired Huntingdon, his voice made tremulous with a profound sorrow. ‘I know of no one besides yourself and me who can attend as mourners,’’ returned the marquis. ‘“ For appear- ance’ sake, the undertaker and some of his men will follow in a second coach.” ‘‘ Appearance’ sake!’ said the baronet, bitterly. ‘ But no matter, it must be so. And now, if everything be in readiness — ”’ Here Ariadne’s senses began to fail her, the stupor re- turned, and she heard no more. But scarcely had oblivion thus poured its opiate-balm into her soul when the door of the apartment was opened hurriedly, and a servant made his appearance, saying to the marquis, ‘“‘ My lord, a young man desires to see either your- self or Sir Douglas Huntingdon immediately. He wanted to come up, but I would not let him — ”’ ‘Ah! it is no doubt Theodore,” interrupted the baronet. “What! the brother,’ murmured the marquis. Then seizing the baronet forcibly by the arm, he said, in a low but rapid and earnest tone, ‘“‘ You will not compromise me, you have promised not to compromise me — ”’ ‘No, no,’ interrupted the baronet, impatiently. Then turning to the domestic, he said, ‘‘ Let the young man come up.”’ The servant withdrew, and in less than half a minute the door opened again, and a genteel, good-looking, but care-worn and emaciated young man made his appearance. But the moment all the dread emblems of death, the coffin on the trestles, the undertaker and his men creeping about like black snakes, as they prepared the cloaks, put on the hatbands, and looked out the gloves, —in fine, as all the sombre features of the scene were embraced by that young man at a glance, he staggered against the door-post, and a deep, convulsing sob denoted the fulness of his mental agony. CoOnnicloooks (C(O)