The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 342: what you’re looking at

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

LS tS sc THE MYSTERI8S OF THE OOURT. _-—keRnhn eee lug of outrage ijmodesty prompt her to fly from his presence: for be it understood that she was in a state of semi-nudity, having on nothing but the night-gear which left her neck and bosom all ex- posed. As she tarned thus abruptly away from the approaching Marquis, she beheld the door which the housekeeper had left open when she dis- played the handsomely-farnished apartment to which it led. “ Beautiful girl!” exclaimed the Marquis, catch- ing sight of her naked charms and instantaneously inflamed by the view. “Resistance is vain !—be- sides, wherefore prove so coy—so cruel——” But Ariadne had rushed forward into the apart- ment to which the secret door opened: and as she shut it promptly behind her, she turned round in eager search for the lock, that she might secure herself against the Marquis. But what was her sur- prise when she beheld nothing but the uniform and wnkroken surface of the haudsomely papered wall, 42% 829 —no lock—no handle—not even so much as a¢ keyhole, to indicate the presence of adoor! The thought flashed to har mind that she had fallen into some new snare: and overcome with a sense of terror now wrought up to an excraciating pitch, she sank down into one of the splendid arm. chairs with which the apartment was furnished. But st the same instant did another rending scream barst fro her lips, as the sharp click of the perfidious mechanism fell upon her ears, and as her arms and shoulders were clapsed by the springs that started forth from the chairs! At the same time the invisible door by which she had entered that room, was opened—and the Marquis of Leveson made his appearance. In- stantaneously shutting the door behind him, ho stood feasting his eyes upon the charms of his in- tended victim. But, Oh! his hard heart melted not with pity as that sweet countenance was up- turned with an expression so enrnestly imploricz, comliclbooks.com