The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

THE COBRA 93 found dead, and a slight puncture on the cheek — or, rather, two small punctures, close together, and not larger than if they had been formed by the point of a lancet — indicated the cause of his death. One of the cobras had contrived to escape from the basket, and as there was no charming music at the time to fascinate its ear, it plunged its fangs into the flesh of its master. It was found coiled up in a corner of the hut, gorged with some small animal that it had swallowed, and being inert after its meal was easily destroyed.” While the princess was yet speaking, the sounds of the two emissaries’ footsteps were heard overhead; they were evidently passing along the passage in which the principal bedchambers were situated. The music had never ceased playing from the instant they quitted the drawing-room, and though Christina was somewhat encouraged by the assurance which the princess had ere now given her, she notwithstand- ing still experienced the cold creeping sensation as if a pro- longed shudder were continuously creeping over her. ‘‘ Now they are in my chamber,” said the princess, as the footsteps were heard in the apartment precisely over the drawing-room. ‘“ Hark! the music plays louder — it grows more rapid. I know its meaning well. Yes, Christina, that man’s instinct did not deceive him. There is assuredly a deadly reptile in the house— Ah! and it is in my own room.” Our heroine gave a half-stifled shriek of affright as she threw herself into the arms of the princess, weeping and sob- bing upon that lady’s bosom, and murmuring in a broken voice, ‘“‘ Just Heaven! if it should prove so, oh, what would have become of your ladyship had not these messengers ar- rived! It is Providence that has sent them.” Indora strained her young friend to her breast, and im- printed a kiss upon her pure, polished forehead; then a sud- den ejaculation burst from Indora, as the music suddenly ceased in the chamber overhead. “ What is it? ’’ asked Christina, and her breath was sus- pended with a suspense most poignantly painful. “It is all over,’’ responded the princess; ‘‘ the reptile is discovered and is destroyed. Hark to the joyous tones of those men’s voices. But thither they come.”’ And it was so. The two emissaries were descending the stairs with much more rapid steps than when they had EOMINGIOOKS (CO)