The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

72 REYNOLDS’ WORKS in those very gardens to which you are going, — if thither you indeed go — ”’ “T tell you that just now,” interrupted Sagoonah, im- patiently, ‘‘ only a minute before I issued forth from the dwelling to join you here, I overheard her ladyship inform Christina of the little plan she meditated to afford her a variety of scene, and thereby cheer her spirits somewhat after the incidents of the past night; and Miss Ashton, who gives a ready assent to everything her benefactress proposes, expressed her thanks. All this was said in my presence, and the Lady Indora added, with a smile, that I should accompany them, for that inasmuch as I had seen the wildest animals free amidst the jungles of my own native land, and full of menacing mischief, I should now behold them pent up behind iron bars, and reduced to subjection, if not to tameness, by the dominant power of man.” ‘Ah, then you will go to those gardens!” exclaimed Madame Angelique. ‘‘ But did not your mistress tell you that there you will likewise behold specimens of the deadliest reptiles which belong to your own native Hindustan? ” ‘No,’ answered Sagoonah. “ Perhaps her ladyship is ignorant thereof.”’ ‘And yet it is so,” rejoined Madame Angelique. ‘‘ A special house is devoted in those gardens to the keeping of the reptiles, and there will you see them in glass cases. If you have the opportunity, Sagoonah, would you dash your hand through the frontage of one of those cases, seize upon the reptile within, and bear it away with you by some suit- able means, — say, for instance, a thick leathern bag that you might have concealed about your person? ”’ ‘I would do it,” answered Sagoonah. “ But is it possible that such opportunity could present itself? ” ‘‘T have often visited those gardens,” replied Madame Angelique, ‘‘ and have been alone for half an hour at a time in the reptile house.”’ ‘“‘ You love, then, to gaze upon those venomous creatures? ”’ said Sagoonah, and even under the coldness of her tone and look there was a certain satire perceptible, as if she meant to imply that there was a sympathy between the nature of the Frenchwoman and that of the snakes which she loved to contemplate. ‘Yes, I have frequently stood to gaze upon those reptiles,”’ CORNICLIOOKS (C(O)