The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIV THE WOUNDED AYAH WE return to Indora’s villa. When Sagoonah went forth disguised in the appurel of her mistress, the queen was seated with Christian and Christina in one of the exquisitely fur- nished rooms on the ground floor. The evening was sultry, and on a remark to that effect being made by Indora, Chris- tian rose to open one of the casements. At that very instant a half-stifled scream coming from the garden reached his ears, as well as those of the queen and his sister, and the two latter started up from their seats. Christian sprang forth upon the lawn on which the case- ment opened, and down to which the window reached, Indora and Christina closely following him. It was a beautiful star- lit evening, and as Christian sped in the direction of the spot whence the cry had seemed to come, he beheld a human form lying upon the gravel walk near the fountain. Ineffable was his amazement on recognizing a costume which he had seen Indora wear, and ejaculations of bewildered astonish- ment burst from the lips of her Majesty and Christina them- selves as they the next moment arrived upon the spot. Christina drew aside the veil from the prostrate figure, and the countenance of Sagoonah was revealed. To raise her up was the work of a moment, and now the appearance of oozing blood drew forth fresh cries of horror and alarm from the lips of those present. The faithful steward Mark and the other domestics of the queen’s house- hold were quickly on the spot. Mark was at once despatched for a surgeon, and Sagoonah was borne into the house. She was insensible, but life was not extinct. There was a deep wound in the region of the right bosom, and the blood was gushing out copiously. She was conveyed to a bedchamber, 146 COMIC OOO <S (CO)