The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

THE COBRA 91 inwardly cursed the inauspicious arrival of the messengers on this particular night. But so far as her own personal safety was concerned, she had no dread; she felt convinced that it could not be for an instant suspected that she had brought away the cobra from the gardens, or that she had placed it in the couch of a mistress whom she was believed to love with so sincere and inflexible a devotion. We must now return to the drawing-room, which Mark had so recently quitted, leaving the junior messenger in pos- session of the flageolet. This individual made a sign to his superior, who at once drew his keen sharp sword from its sheath, and was thus in readiness to act as circumstances might direct. The junior emissary — whose last remnant of terror had altogether vanished, and who now seemed to be inspired with a confidence as great as his recent alarm — began to play upon the flageolet in a peculiar manner. At the same time he turned himself slowly around, as if moving on a pivot where he was standing, and his searching eyes thus gradually embraced the whole circuit of the apartment. In a few minutes he desisted, and said something to the princess. ‘“‘ His first impression is fully confirmed,’ remarked her Highness to Christina; “ he is convinced that the cobra is not in this room, for if so, the reptile would speedily have come dancing forth from its lurking-place. You and I will remain here while they pursue their search elsewhere.”’ ‘‘ And your ladyship does now really believe,’’ said Chris- tina, shuddering, ‘“‘ that there is such a venomous reptile about these premises? ”’ “If I were to give you the assurance,” rejoined Indora, ‘“‘ that there is nothing of the kind to be apprehended in my estimation, I should be speaking untruthfully. And yet, on the other hand, I am at a loss to comprehend how it can possibly be. But we shall soon be relieved from uncertainty and suspense.”’ Indora now gave the emissaries, in her own native language, some information as to the other apartments, and they quitted the drawing-room together, — the junior one being careful to reeommence his play upon the flageolet the instant the door was opened. They issued forth, closing the door behind them, and the peculiar music which the Hindu made ] upon the instrument continued to reach the ears of Indora CORNICLOOOKS (CO)