The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

158 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ~ in a moment electrified as well as amazingly edified by the extraordinary antics which he began to perform. Our young hero next proceeded to the Royal Hotel, where he liquidated Sir Edgar Beverley’s account, and availed himself of the temporary absence of the landlord to settle his own, for be it borne in mind that the generous-hearted proprietor of the establishment had invited him to remain there as long as he thought fit, free of all charge. This was, however, a license which Christian’s natural pride would not suffer him to use, and he therefore liquidated his own score with liberality. He ordered the trunks to be forwarded to Verner House, and having thus transacted his business in the town, returned to that mansion. Nothing more worth special notice occurred during that day, and it was at a somewhat early hour in the evening that the inmates withdrew to their respective chambers, for there was a general sense of weariness after the varied and thrilling incidents of the preceding night. Christian had been perhaps about half an hour in his own room, and was yet but partially undressed, — for he had been sitting down to reflect on all those circumstances in which he had become so mixed up, — when the door slowly opened and Mrs. Oxenden made her appearance. She had completely disapparelled herself of her day costume, and was now attired in the simplest negligee; a muslin wrapper was thrown so loosely around her that it revealed far more of her really superb neck and bosom than was consistent with modesty, and yet there was an utter absence of any indica- tion to prove a studied voluptuous display on her part. Indeed, it all had so natural an air that it appeared as if in the excitement of her feelings she had hurriedly slipped on that muslin wrapper without reference to the closing of its folds in decent propriety. The luxuriant masses of her raven hair fell in heavy tresses upon her admirably sloping shoulders, and the band which circled her waist just drew in the wrapper sufficiently to develop the well-proportioned symmetry of her shape. Her naked feet had been thrust into slippers, and her well-formed ankles, white and well rounded, but of shapely slenderness, glanced beneath the skirt of her dress. Immediately upon making her appear- ance, she placed her forefinger upon her lip to enjoin silence, and then she closed the door. Christian’s countenance flashed EORMIE NOOO KS (E(0)