The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

THE LADY’S - MAID 69 But the earl, who had heard the carriage stop and the front door open, now issued forth from the dining-room where he had been sitting; and the sudden appearance of the nobleman startled Gertrude into new life, and not only relieved her feet from the leaden sensation that had paralyzed their power, but gave to them the fleetest wings. “ Well, Editha,”’ said the earl, as he issued from the dining-room, “‘ not a word of welcome, not a syllable of any kind? Not even a look of recognition? ”’ But his lordship suddenly stopped short in mingled astonishment and dismay, for Gertrude flew rather than walked toward the stairs, up which she bounded with such a marvellous agility that she was out of sight in a moment. “Perdition! ”’ exclaimed the Earl of Curzon, a whole hurricane of suspicions sweeping through his brain; and away in pursuit of the fugitive did he rush. As he was hali-way up the stairs he heard a door closed violently and locked as suddenly up above. Conjecturing that it was the door of his wife’s boudoir, he hastened thither, and, as he expected, found it fast. “ EKditha, open this door —I insist upon it!” he said, with his lips at the keyhole, so as to speak only in a whisper that might not be overheard by any of the other members of the household. No answer was returned, and the earl spoke not only louder, but in a more menacing tone. Still there was no response. The earl’s suspicions became a thousand times more poignant, though not more definite; at all events, he could conjecture nothing but that there must have been a lover concealed in his wife’s boudoir, and that in a sudden panic-terror she had rushed up to screen him. He accord- ingly threatened to force the door unless it were immediately unlocked. Gertrude, half-wild with alarm, saw that another moment’s delay would produce a fearful scandal throughout the house, and she therefore.unlocked the door. She had thrown off the ermine cloak, but still remained in the ball costume. Pale as death, her half-exposed bosom heaving convul- sively, and her hands joined in entreaty, she fell upon her knees as the earl entered the boudoir. ‘““ Heavens! what is the meaning of this? ’’ he exclaimed, as he at once recognized the beautiful lady’s-maid. CoOnniclooolkks (C(O)