The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

THE BORROWED COSTUME 127 taries she thus sought out. But I, the humble slave — oh, it will be different with me. And then, too, even if I suc- ceeded in obtaining such an interview, my tale would not be believed; I should be treated with scorn and ridicule. What am I to do? ”’ And again the Hindu woman sat down to deliberate within herself, but it was not for very long. “Tf I do this,’”’ she went on reflecting, ‘‘ dare I return to the villa? Willit not be known that from me the information was obtained. Besides, if I steal forth now, it will be two or three hours before I could return; my absence would be remarked, and when the blow should smite him almost at the very same time, Indora’s suspicions would at once point to myself as the source whence it emanated. I must there- fore bid an eternal farewell to this house and my mistress. Ay, and why not? Everything for vengeance! Nor need I go away empty-handed. And, ah! I will apparel myself in a style that shall ensure my admission into the presence of the magistrate whom I am about to seek.” Having thus settled all her proceedings in her mind, Sagoonah assumed a calm expression of countenance, and descended on some pretext to the drawing-room. She there found Queen Indora and Christina seated together, and engaged in conversation. Almost immediately afterward Christian Ashton called at the villa, to pass an hour with his sister and the queen, and Sagoonah felt satisfied that she had now ample leisure for the execution of her purpose. Indora had worn during the earlier part of the day that same apparel — half-European in its fashion, and _half- Oriental in its style — which she had worn on the preceding day, but she had changed that dress for an evening costume, according to her wont, when she performed her toilet for dinner. This semi-English, semi-Eastern garb which she had put off, as we have just said, lay upon the couch in Indora’s chamber. That chamber was now entered by Sagoonah, who lost no time in apparelling herself in the dress which she thus found upon the bed, and from the queen’s jewel-caskets she took many valuables, as well as a large sum in gold and bank- notes which she found in a writing-desk that happened to be unlocked. Concealing this wealth about her person, Sa- goonah flung a thick and costly veil over her head. A few minutes afterward she issued noiselessly forth from the EOMINIGIOOKS (CO) am