The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

140 REYNOLDS’ WORKS careful assistance, and vaulting over the window-sill, he sprang into the room, that he might help her out first, and thus be enabled to hold her hand as she descended the ladder. But at that very instant the sound of a door opening in the first room of the suite reached the ears of the lovers, and Laura, suddenly becoming pale as death, faintly ejacu- lated, ‘‘ My sister! ”’ Not for a single instant did Edgar Beverley lose his presence of mind; on the contrary, it all in a moment received the most vivid impulse, and with one spring across the room he reached the door of communication between the two chambers. The handle of that door was already turning in the grasp of Mrs. Oxenden, when the key itself was turned by Edgar Beverley, and the next instant he was by Laura’s side again. ‘Open the door, Laura!’’ exclaimed the voice of Mrs. Oxenden from the opposite side of the secured portal. “Open the door directly, I command you! ”’ “Energy, dearest Laura, energy and courage, for God’s sake! ’’ whispered Beverley. ‘ The least hesitation, and everything is lost.” But as Mrs. Oxenden’s voice continued to peal from the opposite side of the door, the poor damsel was almost over- whelmed with affright; in such dread did she stand of her sister, that she could not possibly conquer her terrors. Nevertheless, by some little exertion on her own part, but more through the assistance of her lover, she passed over the window-sill and got upon the ladder, at the same time that the voice of Mrs. Oxenden suddenly ceased to be heard from the opposite side of the door, though the excitement experienced by both the lovers prevented them from hearing the sounds of the unprincipled woman’s rapidly retreating footsteps. The crisis was now a serious one, for though Beverley was determined to defend Laura with his very life, if neces- sary, yet he likewise knew that his uncle had a numerous retinue of male dependents, and that he would not scruple to urge them to any deed of violence. However, by the joint assistance of her lover and the mountebank, Laura descended the ladder, and reached the ground in safety. Then away toward the post-chaise! But all in an instant the front door of the mansion opened, Sir John Steward and EORMICLIOO KS (E(0)