The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

MAKEPEACE 191 ‘Indeed, Adolphus,” interrupted the countess, ‘I was thinking of giving you the same warning, in the hope that it would lead you to put an end at once to this frightful state of existence for us both, for I can assure you that it is upon you the suspicious looks of Makepeace are furtively thrown.”’ “Ethel, you will drive me mad,” exclaimed Adolphus, starting up from his seat. ‘‘ One word, Ethel — ” “One word, Adolphus,” and the countess, starting up at the same time, confronted the young nobleman, lately her paramour, now the object of her bitterest aversion. They gazed upon each other with a strange fixity of look, as if each momentarily expected the eyes of the other to quail and be downcast, — as if each wondered that it was not so, and then each withdrawing those regards as if by simultaneous and tacit consent, — Ethel resumed her seat upon the sofa. Adolphus turned upon his heel, and quitted the room with a quicker step than when he had entered it. He opened the door somewhat abruptly, and he beheld a person gliding away across the landing, as if from the vicinage of that door where he might have been listening. This individual was Makepeace. Adolphus was instantaneously by his side, and clutching him forcibly by the arm, he said, in a low, hoarse voice, ‘‘ What were you doing there? ”’ ‘I, my lord? ’”’ said Makepeace, for an instant assuming a look of most candid innocence, but suddenly changing, with the air of one who did not think it worth while to dis- semble, he added, in a sort of independent manner, “ If your lordship will give me five or ten minutes, I will explain myself.” The Earl of Lascelles was about to fling the fellow away from him as a chastisement for his insolence, but with a strong effort he subdued his boiling passion, and said, “Follow me.”’ He led the way toward his own chamber, — to reach which an anteroom had to be traversed, and locking the door of that anteroom, the young Earl of Lascelles was tolerably well assured there could be no listeners to what- soever was about to take place. To convince himself, how- ever, completely upon the point, he looked behind all the draperies in his bedroom, and having done this, he turned toward Makepeace, saying, ‘‘ And now what is it? ”’ ‘“Why does your lordship take all these precautions?” EOMINGIOOKS (CO)