The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

THE MASKED BALL) 291 By a sudden and impulsive movement his companion threw back her veil in startled dismay, and disclosed to the astounded Earl of Curzon the features of Lady Prescott! ‘““ Perdition! there is some mistake! ”’ he said, grasping her by the arm. ‘“ But for Heaven’s sake compose yoursellf,’’ he added, perceiving the mingled astonishment and terror into which his strange conduct had thrown her. There were very few masques in the hall at this moment, but amongst these few were three in particular, two females and a gentleman, who from a little distance witnessed the scene which we have just described. ‘To the eyes of ordinary observers there was nothing particularly remarkable in it, the withdrawing of a mask and veil, and a mutual recogni- tion in consequence, being a common occurrence on such occasions; while the strong emotions that accompanied this special recognition were so transitory and so speedily subdued that they might easily have been mistaken for the mere expression of surprise without any more powerful or vexatious feeling. But the three masques to whom we have particularly alluded as witnesses of this scene not only watched it attentively, but likewise penetrated the full depth of its meaning. The reader will have no difficulty in understanding that these were Editha, Gertrude, and Lord Sackville, and the moment the scene itself took place, EHditha, separating from the nobleman and her maid, glided up to the spot where her husband and Lady Prescott were standing transfixed, gazing upon each other. Then taking off her mask, Editha suddenly disclosed her countenance to their view. “Heavens! your wife, my lord!’ ejaculated Lady Prescott, now seized with an overwhelming confusion. “Yes, tis I, this false man’s wife,’’ said Editha, in a tone which, though low and rapid, was terrible with the accen- tuation of a bitter malignity. ‘‘I have heard and seen enough to understand the intimacy which has sprung up between you. I was close behind you both when first you met ere now. I heard you, my lord, lavish your poetic eloquence upon this woman, and I heard you,” she added, bending the lightnings of her eyes upon the almost fainting and utterly bewildered Lady Prescott, ‘“ confess that you loved him in return. Oh, it is a joy, it is a pleasure, a perfect para- dise of revengeful feeling, to unmask a vile, traitorous Gomichboo cS (E(0)