The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XI THE AYAH AND MR. REDCLIFFE Ir was in the afternoon of the day following that night’s incidents which we have been relating, and Mr. Redcliffe proceeded to Queen Indora’s villa. Having passed a couple of hours in her society, he took his leave; but as he was is- suing from the front door, Sagoonah, who opened it for him, suddenly laid her hand upon his arm, and said, in a low, deep voice, “‘ It is absolutely necessary I should have a few minutes’ conversation with you.” Redcliffe stopped short in astonishment. For an instant the eyes of the Hindu woman had shed upon him their burning light in that same manner which on three or four previous occasions had struck him as being so peculiar, but now, the next instant, her looks became full of a soft and earnest entreaty. | ‘What mean you, Sagoonah?”’ he asked. ‘‘ What can you have to say to me which may not be said in the presence of your mistress? Your request is so strange —’’ ‘IT beseech and implore that you will grant me a few minutes,” responded the ayah. ‘Oh, pray, pray do! Yonder, in the field at the extremity of the garden — I will be there in afew minutes. Oh, Mr. Redcliffe, refuse me not! ”’ She then hastily glided away, and Mr. Redcliffe, issuing from the villa, deliberated bewilderingly with himself as to the course which he ought to pursue. The haunting looks of Sagoonah appeared to corroborate the idea that she had really something of importance to say to him, and he could at least see no harm in hearing what this might be. He accordingly decided upon keeping the appointment which she had just given him, and, on quitting the grounds attached to the villa, he repaired to the field which was 115 CORnnICLOOOKS (CO)