The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

a THE LIBRARY 135 On the evening of which we are speaking there had been a dinner-party at Marchmont House, and the saloons were afterward thrown open for the reception of a fashionable assemblage. Dancing commenced in one room; the card- tables were speedily occupied in another. The Duchess of Marchmont assumed a gay and cheerful aspect, though her heart was inwardly a prey to the never-ceasing sense of neglect and ill-treatment, yes, even hatred, which she had experienced on the part of her husband. The duke likewise dissembled the real state of his own feelings, but for a far different motive; and when he passed through his sump- tuously furnished and brilliantly lighted rooms, as if with the zeal of a host who is careful to see that his guests are sur- rounded by all possible hospitalities, frequent was the whis- pered remark to the effect that *‘ his Grace had not for a long time seemed so cheerful nor performed his part so affably as on the present occasion.”’ A little before eleven o’clock the Duke of Marchmont had slipped away from the midst of the gay throng, and throwing on an overcoat, had issued forth by the back of the premises to proceed to the place of appointment which he had ar- ranged with the Burker. They met, as we have already de- scribed, and we left them bending their steps toward Bel- grave Square, the duke leading the way, his assassin accom- plice following at a little distance. The duke stopped at a door in a wall which bounded the back part of the spacious stabling establishment attached to Marchmont House, and opening that door by means of a key which he had with him, he waited till the Burker came up. He then conducted the villain through all that depart-. ment of the premises, and led him unseen by any of the domestics into the library. Wax candles were burning there, for it was usual to light up any part of the spacious estab- lishment which his Grace might think fit to visit. There was a screen at the lower extremity, which partially concealed one of the windows, whence a draught had lately been observed to emanate, and at the instant that the door opened to admit the duke and the Burker, a female figure glided behind that screen. The dress, as well as the window-draperies, rustled for a moment, but neither the nobleman nor the assassin heard the sounds, which were indeed slight and transient. The duke locked the door, and throwing himself upon a EOMINGIOOKS (CO)