The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

74 THE COURT OF LONDON “Ah! I am afraid that ’tis I who have been trifled with,’ exclaimed the earl, bitterly; and at the same time he began dragging forth the contents of Editha’s writing- desk. | Gertrude saw that further remonstrance and artifice were unavailing; and smarting under a deep sense of humiliation at the rejection of the overtures which she had so pointedly made, she stood by in sullen silence. Not only was she vexed at the failure of her artifice, but her natural woman’s pride was hurt and wounded. ‘“ Here! ’’ suddenly exclaimed the earl, after turning over a number of letters of no particular consequence, but at length lighting upon that very selfsame one which had aroused his suspicions on the former occasion. ‘ Here! ”’ he cried, tossing it to Gertrude, ‘‘ take and read this, and then persist in telling me, if you dare, that you are not in the confidence of your mistress.’’ The girl took the note which was thus angrily and con- temptuously flung at her, and read its contents as follows: ‘“‘T have received your hasty note, my dear Editha, and send you a reply by Gertrude. Yes, I will be at home all the evening, and will adopt the usual precautions. You have nothing to fear on that account. The servant shall receive orders to admit no one but the Countess of Curzon. But are you certain that you can trust the girl? “Your affectionate friend, “ KATHERINE LECHMERE.”’ Eagerly and intently did the Earl of Curzon watch the countenance of Gertrude as she perused that billet, and the girl felt the telltale blush stealing over her countenance — a blush which, were it to seal her doom, she had not the power to restrain. Besides, she was hurt at the moment at the doubt implied in the note relative to her own trust- worthiness; but a second thought showed her that the countess was not blamable for what Lady Lechmere wrote. ‘Now, youny woman, will you confess? ’”’ said the earl, as he took back the note from her hand, “ or will you dare my vengeance by your obstinacy? ”’ “TI know nothing about it, my lord, I know nothing about it! You may kill me,’”’ she added, with hysterical Gomichboo SS (E(0)