The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

THE COBRA 97 left, I took care to inform myself that your party had been and was gone, I looked in the reptile house and, Sagoonah, the deadly cobra was missing.’’ “ And that cobra was taken away by my hand,’ rejoined Sagoonah, a terrific brightness suddenly flaming up in her large black eyes. ‘‘ Think you therefore that the hand which dared grasp the reptile trembled to deposit it in the couch of her to ensure whose death my own was dared? No! I did all that your infernal wickedness suggested, and that my own fearful courage was enabled to accomplish. But Heaven intervened wondrously, miraculously, and the dead reptile — dread now no longer —is buried in this garden. I tell you, woman,’ added Sagoonah, fiercely, “‘ that those who serve the cause of Hell cannot possibly prevail against the blessed of Heaven, and the Lady Indorais thus blest. Begone — tempt me no more. All your arts and wiles, your cajo- leries and your instigations, are vain and fruitless. Never more will I be led by them; never more will I bend to them. Begone, woman, and beware how you seek this place again.”’ There was a wild eloquence in Sagoonah’s language which corresponded effectually and impressively with her aspect, as she thus spoke. Her eyes burned with a supernal lustre; they glowed in the magnificence of their brightness, — their splendour was effulgent, but terrible and overpowering. Her nostrils dilated, her lips wreathed like those of a pythoness when enunciating prophecies with an inspiring frenzy. Her tall form was drawn up to its full height; the swelling bosom upheaved beneath the white draperies that only partially con- cealed those contours as well rounded as if belonging to a statue of bronze, and altogether the appearance of that Hindu woman struck terror and dismay into the heart of Madame Angelique. ‘‘ Begone, I repeat,’’ exclaimed Sagoonah once more, and the milliner shrank cowering back from the fierce lightnings of the ayah’s eyes. Then Sagoonah turned slowly away from the fence, and gave no heed to the Frenchwoman’s passionate entreaties that she would stop and listen to her. Madame Angelique waited for a few minutes in the last desperate hope that Sagoonah would yet come back, but she did not, and was presently lost amidst the dense foliage of the evergreens. Then the milliner was compelled to betake herself away from COMICMOOKS (CO)