The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

PRINCESS SOPHIA AND HER BROTHER 239 veil blew aside, and we caught a glimpse of her countenance. It was known to us both. No matter who the female was. Suffice it for you to know that we did recognize her as she thus swept past like a maniac, or like one in a state of frenzied horror. But she saw not us. Coffin was about to pursue her, for he had certain reasons for wishing to speak to her, and those reasons also accounted for her being there at that time of night. But at the same instant, just as Coffin was on the point of springing forward and catching her by the arm, a fearful scream came thrilling through the night air. ‘ Hark!’ exclaimed Coffin, clutching me by the arm, for we were both startled as suddenly as if the earth had been opening to swallow us up. But instantaneously feeling assured that something was wrong, struck by a presentiment that the shriek came from your lips, and not pausing to reflect upon the imprudence of bringing Coffin into contact with you, I sped along the bridge as if wings had suddenly fastened themselves to my feet. Coffin, who as well as myself had lost all further thought of that female who had swept past us so frantically, and whom we ~ had recognized, was close at my heels. On gaining the recess, we beheld you lying senseless upon the pavement, and the youth inside stabbed with a poniard. The truth flashed to my mind in a moment, and it simultaneously occurred to Daniel Coffin with equal force. We knew, we understood, we comprehended it all. “Twas the hand of the female whom I have mentioned that had done the deed.” “ Fortunate, then, oh, most fortunate, was it for me,” exclaimed the princess, ‘‘ that accident should thus have shown you who the base assassin was. Otherwise the most terrible complication of circumstantial evidence would have pointed at me. Oh, I shudder, I shudder, when I reflect upon the risk that I ran and the horrors I encountered last night. But who,’’ suddenly demanded the princess, ‘‘ was the murderess, and what was the wretch’s motive? ”’ “ Restrain your curiosity on this point,’”’ said the prince. “Suffice it for you to know that the female in question had some spite against Daniel Coffin, and hearing that he was to be upon the bridge last night, she availed herself of the oppor- tunity, as she thought and hoped, to wreak her vengeance upon him, but by a fatal mistake she stabbed that unfor- tunate youth. There is no necessity to dwell upon these Cconnicloooks (C(O)