The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

THE COBRA 89 father. He is well, but he misses me greatly. Huis letter is full of kindness, and he urges me to return to my native land with the least possible delay. I have been expecting some such summons as this—and yet the purpose which brought me to England is not as yet accomplished. It can- not however be long,’ continued Indora, in a musing strain rather than actually addressing herself to Christina; “‘ no, it cannot be long ere my object shall be worked out. Heaven has already aided in placing me on the right track! The time, therefore, I feel confident is not far remote when I shall be enabled to obey my father’s summons, and it was this idea, Christina, which made me tell you yesterday that if I am soon compelled by circumstances to leave England, you should not find yourself unprovided for.’ Our heroine expressed her gratitude with a look fervently bent upon her high-born friend, and then the princess re- sumed the conversation with the senior emissary. But by this time the uneasiness of the junior one had risen into a sore trouble and agitation. He gathered up his legs com- pletely under him on the ottoman, his slender wiry form appeared to be convulsed with spasmodic writhings, his eyes vibrated with a visible terror, he sniffed the air, the per- spiration stood upon his dark, bronzed brow. Indora now observed the condition of the man, and stopping short in some remark which she was addressing to his companion, she gazed upon him with bewildered astonishment. He threw himself at her feet, looked shudderingly around, and then ejaculated something which had the instantaneous effect of making the Princess Indora herself start, as if abruptly smitten with the infection of the man’s own terror. But instantaneously recovering her self-possession, she smiled, and addressed him in words the tones of which were evidently fraught with encouragement, as Christina herself could not fail to comprehend. “You will be amazed, my dear friend,” said the princess, addressing herself in English to our heroine, ‘‘ when I ex- plain to you the reason of all this, — the more so, too, that the coincidence is strange, after we ourselves have only this very day visited a certain place. Compose yourself, Chris- tina, because you know it is as impossible as I have just been endeavouring to persuade this messenger that it is, but he expresses his belief—nay, even his conviction — EOMIGIOOKS (CO)