The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

364 REYNOLDS’ WORKS better worth his while to tarry until Madame Angelique should come up to the chamber, when, after sleep had fallen upon her eyes, he might steal forth, he might awaken her, and he might compel her to surrender up all the money and valuables she had in the house. By this plan, too, he would secure himself a safe egress in the midst of the night; whereas if he now plundered the chamber, and endeavoured to steal off, he might be perceived by either the maid or the mistress, an alarm might be raised, and his capture would be the result. Ali things considered, therefore, the disguised Lascar pre- ferred remaining where he was. An hour passed, when the Burker heard Madame Ange- lique’s steps in the hall below, and immediately afterward her voice issued an instruction to the maid. This was to the effect that as Madame Angelique had made but a poor dinner, she fancied a lobster for her supper (for she was a very great gourmand), and Jane was desired to speed to the fishmonger’s shop, which was at no great distance, and procure the coveted edible. ‘“‘ Shall I first take up lights to the parlour, ma’am? ”’ asked Jane, from the passage leading to the kitchen, which was on the ground floor, and not one of those odious subterraneans in which domestic servants are too often buried as if they were workers in miniature mines. “No, wait till you come back,” answered Madame An- gelique, ‘ but just give me a chamber-candle. You need not be afraid to go across to the fishmonger’s; it is a beautiful clear evening, with the moon shining.” “Oh, I’m not afraid, ma’am,”’ responded the pretty maid; and having given her mistress the lighted candle, she issued from the house. Madame Angelique began mounting the stairs toward her chamber, on reaching which she was about to change her evening toilet for a comfortable déshabillé, that she might all the more pleasantly abandon herself to the pleasure of the expected evening repast. But scarcely had she put the candle upon the drawers when she was transfixed with horror on beholding a great coarse, dusty boot protruding from be- neath the drapery at the foot of the bed. For a moment she stood stupefied, then a cry escaped her lips, and she was making for the door, when her feet, kicking up the floor- carpet, became entangled therein, and down she fell. ECORNICIOOKS m