The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 393: what you’re looking at

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

360 THE COURT OF LONDON of the fearful uncertainty that had seized upon them. But the doctor might return every moment; he was but a few yards distant on the other side of that door, which they dared not open an inch wider lest it should grate on its hinges and betray their eavesdropping. ‘“ Now then, comrades, be off,’’ said the hoarse voice of Kobolt. ‘‘ I will remain to help the doctor hft his prize to an inner room, and receive the gold pieces. In half an hour I will join you at our usual place of meeting.” ‘“ All right,’’ responded the two voices which had previ- ously given utterance to brief monosyllables, and the front door was then heard to open and close gently. ‘“ Now be quick,” said the doctor, in a sharp impatient tone. ‘‘ Let us clear this away, or those who are waiting for me will begin to consider my absence most extraordi- nary.” With a still more poignant curiosity and a still keener attention, if possible, did Agatha and Mrs. Ranger continue to listen inside the parlour; and now upon their ears slowly. crept a sound as if that same heavy object which they had previously heard thrown down in the hall was being dragged over the stone floor. “Be quiet, fool that you are,” said the doctor, angrily. ‘We must lift it, I tell you. That noise can be heard. Lift it, I say.” And then, as Agatha and Mrs. Ranger staggered back to their seats, overcome by the force of horrible suspicions now reduced almost to a certainty, they heard the quick footsteps of Maravelli and Kobolt retreating along the hall with the peculiar tread of men carrying something awkward and heavy between them. An inner door then opened and shut, and all was still. ‘‘ Heavens! what is the meaning of this?’’ murmured Agatha, who felt as if she were about to faint. ‘‘ Terrible thoughts are agitating in my brain.” ‘Terrible, indeed,” said Mrs. Ranger, her whole form shivering with a cold shudder. ‘“‘ But we must compose ourselves, we must collect our courage, we must not let the doctor think we have been spying his actions. There! I will shut the door close.”’ Thus speaking, she rose from her seat and secured the door gently; then, hastening back to Agatha’s side, she , Gomicbooks (E(0)