The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

THE COBRA 89 are there, lock the door, put the key in your pocket, and tell them what you will. At all events you will prevent them from rushing frantically about the house, or escaping into the garden— But go, good Mark, and for Heaven’s sake look well on the staircase and elsewhere, for if the horrible sus- picion be indeed correct — But go, Mark, I'am needlessly wasting time! ”’ The faithful intendant of Indora’s household quitted the room, and immediately he had disappeared, the junior mes- senger who now seemed to have become more calm said something to the princess. ‘“‘ He still perseveres in declaring that there is a cobra within the walls of this villa,’ said the princess to Christina, *“‘ but since the door has been opened and shut twice during the last few minutes, he says that his instinctive suscepti- bility tells him that the reptile is not here, in this room, but in some other, and he thinks overhead.”’ ‘Good heavens, the bedchambers! ”’ ejaculated Christina, who at each successive stage of these singular proceedings was more deeply catching the infection of terror, notwith- standing the natural strength of her mind. ‘“‘ Do not be alarmed,” replied the princess, now completely cool and collected; ‘‘it may be all an error; it may arise from something exhaling a peculiar odour which strikes upon this man’s exquisitely keen sensitiveness, but if, on the other hand, there be really a cobra within these walls, rest assured that by the aid of the music it will be discovered and de- stroyed.” ‘“‘ But if it should suddenly spring on one of these mes- sengers? ”’ said Christina, with a frightened look of inquiry. ‘There is no chance when once the piping begins — But here is Mark, and now the mystery will soon be solved.” The intendant appeared with the flageolet, which he had been to fetch from the servants’ hall, and having handed it to the junior emissary, he hastened off again, to do Indora’s bidding in respect to locking himself in with the other serv- ants, in the room where they habitually sat. In that room the English interpreter was now seated; there also were Sagoonah and the Indian man servant Tippoo, the groom, and two English females (for the princess had taken an ad- ditional maid into her service since Christina became an in- mate of the villa). The coachman did not sleep at the EOMINGIOOKS (CO)