The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

THE NEGRESS 169 of which no one suspects who does not already know that secret, and it is reached by a means of communication so cunningly and craftily devised that a person might live a dozen years in the mansion without entertaining the remotest idea of all these mysteries.”’ ‘‘This sounds most strange,’’ said Christian. ‘‘ How is it possible that such space can be taken up inside a house without the fact being suspected? ”’ “The secret room,’”’ continued the negress, “is very long but very narrow; it is a sort of slip taken off the passage lengthways, on the next story, — the one up above, I mean. It is lighted by a window in the roof, and a very narrow staircase is the means of reaching it. The walls are so thick, or else so well contrived by the masons who made the place, that no one in the adjoining chambers on the one side, or in the passage on the other, could possibly overhear anything that took place in that chamber. The skylight on the roof has a double casement, and this likewise deadens all sound from within. The whole arrangement is as curious as it is clever, for there are devices to maintain a healthful supply of fresh air. In a word, the place must have cost Sir John Steward a great deal of money.”’ ‘“ And now that you have finished the romance of your story,’ said Christian, who did not believe a syllable of all that had just been told him, though he could not for the life of him conjecture why the negress should be devising such a narrative, “‘ you will perhaps tell me for what uses the mysterious room served? ” ‘“T suppose I need not inform you, sir,’’ continued the black woman, who did not perceive by our hero’s tone how her veracity was suspected, “‘ that Sir John Steward was a very gay gentleman, and that many a young girl has fallen his victim? ” } ‘““T have indeed heard enough,’ responded Christian, ‘‘ to convince me that here at least you are speaking nothing but the truth. But that secret apartment — ”’ | ‘‘ Often served, sir,’ rejoined the negress, “‘ as a place of imprisonment for some lovely creature who fell into the snare set for her, or was carried off by violence. Only con- celve 2 young woman brought into this house and consigned to a room like any other, — this one, for instance, — falling off fast asleep, when worn out with fatigue and perhaps with EOMINGIOOKS (CO