The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

THE FIVE THOUSAND GUINEAS 321 better go at once, Gertrude, and tell the hall porter to receive the parcel when it comes and keep it until he sees you again. He must be sure and not allow anybody to catch sight of 1t.”’ ‘“ Trust to me,” said Gertrude, and she hastened from the apartment. Meantime the Earl of Curzon had just returned home, after having passed the night and the whole of the forenoon in the arms of Lady Prescott at Mrs. Gale’s fashionable house of accommodation. Upon entering the hall, his lordship received the note which Theodore Varian had sent him, and immediately comprehending whose name the initials were . intended to represent, and from what quarter the money was therefore coming, the earl was not slow in making up his mind that such an amount, if he once succeeded in getting possession of it, should be considered his own lawful booty. He therefore stationed himself at the dining-room window, in order to observe all arrivals at the front door. Slowly pessed the time, but at length the earl’s watch showed him that it was close upon three o’clock. And now, concealed behind the curtain, he kept his eyes intently fixed upon the front door-steps. In a few minutes a well- dressed person passed in front of the house, drew a brown paper parcel from his pocket, and having consulted the direction, looked at the number on the front door, evidently to assure himself that it was the right house. Immediately aiterward he ascended the steps, and the porter, who, having been duly instructed by Gertrude, was on the watch at the hall window, opened the door before the visitor had time to knock. This individual, who was a friend of Emmer- son’s, instantaneously delivered the parcel into the porter’s hands, and took his hurried departure without uttering a word. The porter closed the front door, and thrust the parcel into the capacious pocket of his scarlet livery-coat. At the same moment Gertrude came flitting down the stairs and the Earl of Curzon issued forth from the dining-room. For an instant the lady’s-maid stopped short, and hung back on the staircase, in the hope that the earl would pass on his way and leave the coast clear for her to receive the parcel from the hands of the porter. But, to the ineffable dismay of Gertrude, the nobleman walked straight across the hall CORAICLOO© SS (C(O)