The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

EDITHA 65 require, so that your faithful Gertrude may procure you the amount at my banker’s the first thing in the morning? Will you not, I ask, afford me that opportunity? ”’ he urged, with a look of deep meaning and in a tone of impassioned entreaty. “Ah! can you not imagine that I have already made the necessary arrangements? ”’ said Editha, with downcast eyes and blushing cheeks, while she played archly and coquettishly with her fan. “ Yes, I dared to anticipate this happiness, this renewed experience of paradise,’’ returned Emmerson, “ and there- fore I am not expected home at Clapham to-night.” “Gertrude will come hither at midnight,” said Editha, with a look of intelligence. ‘‘ Half an hour afterward you must be at the corner of the street with a hackney- coach.” Emmerson threw upon his charming mistress a look of intoxicated delight, and they then quitted the card-room, returning to the more spacious saloons where the dancing was in progress. Here they separated for the present, Emmerson joining a group of gentlemen with whom he was well acquainted, inasmuch as their promissory notes were all in his strong box in Nicholas Lane, while, on the other hand, the Countess of Curzon accepted an invitation from some nobleman to join the dance. A little after midnight Editha watched an opportunity to steal away, unperceived, from the brilliant throng in the splendid saloons; and ascending a staircase, she threaded a long carpeted passage with the air of one to whom the place was quite familiar. Opening a door at the end of this passage, she entered a bedchamber where a cheerful fire was blazing in the grate and wax tapers were already lighted upon the table. Her own ermine cloak was likewise there, lying upon the bed. Carefully locking the door by which she had entered, Editha opened another one exactly facing it. This second door communicated with a back staircase, feebly lighted by a suspended lamp. For a few minutes the countess remained standing at the head of this staircase, as if in expectation of some arrival. Such was the case. A small bell was heard to tinkle, and at the signal — for a signal it assuredly was — Editha hastily descended the staircase and unlocked a door CORAICLOO© SS (C(O)