The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

ANOTHER FIVE THOUSAND GUINEAS = 327 Two hours elapsed, during which interval the Countess of Curzon gave way to an infinite variety of disagreeable and bewildering reflections. To what end could this war- fare with her husband possibly lead? At one moment she triumphed, at another she was forced to endure the most perilous defeats, and in the long run would she not be crushed altogether? The gloom deepened around her soul as these thoughts were forced upon her, and in acute suspense did she await Gertrude’s return. It was half-past five when the abigail came back, and the moment she entered the boudoir, the expression of her countenance at once convinced Editha that she had failed in her mission. “Have you seen him? ”’ she said, in a quick voice which showed that suspense was agony. ‘No, dear lady,’’ answered Gertrude, ‘“‘ I have not seen Mr. Emmerson. Everything is turning against us. Pressing business, transpiring all of a sudden, has compelled him to depart post-haste on a long journey. I saw his head clerk, Mr. Varian, that young man, you know, whom he has so generously taken back into his service — ”’ “Well, well, go on, for Heaven’s sake! ”’ said Editha. “Mr. Varian told me that Mr. Emmerson had received a letter between three and four o’clock — it was a letter from the Continent, I think he said — which compelled him to start off at once. The whole affair was so sudden that Mr. Emmerson had scarcely time to write even a note to his wife. Had I been half an hour earlier I should have just arrived in time to see him ere he stepped into the post- chaise.”’ “But when will he return?” asked Editha, still in an agony of suspense. “ Alas! dear lady,” replied Gertrude, “it is altogether uncertain. He told Mr. Varian that he should be absent at least ten days.” “ Good heavens! ”’ said Editha, clasping her hands, ‘‘ and in the meantime I may be ruined. Oh, the fatal folly of that tortuous and roundabout plan of his to silence the villain Malpas! ” ~ It is useless repining,” said Gertrude. ‘ Let us, with our usual courage, look the matter boldly in the face.” “ Well, I will do so,” said the countess, assuming a forced composure. “It is quite clear, Gertrude, that something CoOnnicloooks (C(O)