The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

O22 THE COURT OF LONDON to where the porter had just resumed his seat in his great leathern chair. ‘‘ Was the parcel for me that just arrived? ’’ demanded the earl, and the words struck like the knell of doom, not only upon the ears of Gertrude, but likewise on those of the unhappy Editha, who was anxiously listening on the landing above. “Eh, what, my lord? ’”’ stammered the hall porter, sud- denly turning as crimson as his coat and then as white as his neckcloth. ‘““T spoke plain enough, fellow,’ exclaimed the earl, in a stern voice. ‘“ That parcel which came a moment ago, was it for me, I say? — because I was expecting one.”’ “No, my lord —it was—it was— that is to say —I mean,’ stammered the porter, not knowing what to do, and glancing uneasily from the earl before him to Gertrude on the stairs, then back to the earl again. ‘Show me that parcel immediately,’’ said the nobleman, in a quick voice and with imperious manner. ‘“‘ Come, be prompt, give it me at once.” “ But, my lord — ”’ ‘“ Silence, sirrah! ”’ “The parcel was not for your lordship,”’ urged the porter. ‘““ Give it to me, I say! ”’ thundered the earl, as he grasped the miserable wretch by the collar. The porter accordingly at once produced the brown paper packet, but fleet as an arrow did Gertrude bound from the stairs on which she had been hitherto transfixed, and, utterly losing all her presence of mind, she screamed, in wild, hysterical accents, ‘‘ No, no, it belongs to my mistress! ”’ But the Earl of Curzon gave a triumphant laugh as he seized the packet from the hand of the astounded hall porter, and Editha, on hearing all that thus took place, rushed down the stairs in an agony of mind more easily conceived than. described. At this moment the earl was the only one who retained. anything bordering on presence of mind, and, anxious to avoid a further scene in the hall, which might end by reach- ing the ears of the entire household, he at once hurried back into the dining-room, closely followed by the countess and Gertrude. ‘‘ Your lordship will please to observe to whom that parcel — Gomicbooks (E(0) m