The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

178 | REYNOLDS’ WORKS ing her back; ‘ we, if you please, will lead the way,”’ for the thought had flashed to his mind that there was a strong bolt to the exterior side of the outer door. ‘‘T have no interest in playing a treacherous part,’’ said the negress. Our hero took no notice of the observation, but, carrying the lamp in his hand, he conducted Isabella down the stair- case, — the negress following with the light which she had taken from the table in the chamber. Christian unlocked the door of the bedroom with which the movable panel in the wall communicated; he conducted Isabella forth, and indicating an unoccupied chamber, gave her the lamp at the door, pressed her hand, and instantaneously withdrew. The negress disappeared to some other part of the building; our hero entered the room where he had established his own temporary quarters, and in the midst of the most delicious thoughts — thoughts of purest, holiest love—a _ sweet sleep stole upon his eyes. He awoke at a very early hour in the morning, and for some minutes could scarcely persuade himself that the incidents of the preceding night were not alla dream. The panel door, however, still stood open, and this was a confirmation of the reality of all those occurrences. Curiosity prompted him to examine the door; he discovered where the secret spring was situated, how it worked, and where it had to be touched, on either the inner or outer side, so as to make the door open for egress or ingress. Then, on its being shut he could not help admiring with what exquisite nicety it was made to fit into its setting; so that no eye, however scrutinizing, could possibly detect any indication of the existence of such a door. This survey being finished, and some of his apparel being huddled on, he repaired to his own chamber for the sake of the conveniences of the toilet. Mrs. Oxenden was not there, but he perceived a billet upon the toilet-table; it was ad- dressed to himself, and the handwriting was the beautiful fluid one of alady. For an instant he hesitated to open it, but this indecision was quickly overruled by the thought that as he had made up his mind to communicate to his friend the baronet everything that had occurred, he would show Sir Edgar this letter hkewise, whatsoever its contents might be, and no matter how earnest should be its pleadings for his forbearance, his silence, and his secrecy. CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)