The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

280 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘““T know, my dear Editha, that you will at once yield an affirmative to all I have just asked. I therefore take it for granted that you will be at Lady Wenlock’s to-night. I will be there punctually at nine o’clock. My costume shall be that of a Cavalier of the olden time, with doublet, buskins, cap, and every article of apparel in the most ap- proved style. Ringlets of false hair will flow upon my shoulders, and as a matter of course I shall wear a mask. Do you think you will recognize me in this costume? You can scarcely fail to do so. But as I shall not know how you may be dressed, the usual etiquette must be reversed, and you will have to accost and single out me from the midst of the throng. Your watchword shall be, ‘How comes it, Cavalier, that you have left your sword behind you?’ and if the reply be, ‘ Because I expected the companionship of a gentle lady,’ then shall you know that it is really I — your adoring admirer —to whom you will be speaking. Farewell, then, until nine to-night. ‘Your fond and devoted, ‘‘ SACKVILLE.” ‘“A beautiful composition! quite a love of a love-letter! the sweetest of the sweet,’’ exclaimed Gertrude, with a sincere and most unfeigned admiration of the rhapsody. ‘“ Yes, and a pleasant letter for a husband to have read,”’ said Editha, curtly. ‘‘ But, thank Heaven! he has allowed it to reach my hands, and has not kept it as a proof against me. Now, Gertrude, let us consult what is to be done. Do you think that the earl means to inveigle me into some snare? Would he have allowed this letter to reach me if he did not purpose to make some use of its contents in order to ruin me? ”’ ‘Depend upon it, my lady,” rejoined Gertrude, “ that the earl will devise some means — perhaps forge a letter, as if coming from you —to prevent Lord Sackville from personating the character of a Cavalier at all; but the earl himself will go disguised as a Cavalier, so as to per- sonate Lord Sackville, inveigle you into avowals and con- fessions of love, and then unmask himself to overwhelm you with confusion.”’ ‘Your surmises are admirable, Gertrude,”’ said Editha. “There can be no doubt that you have hit exactly upon Gomicbooks (e(@)