The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

YHE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. . 869 white and well-rounded, which clung with such te- j enveloped in the capacious mantle, while her dis- nacity to the double rope. Fortunate perbaps was it for the damsel that she got rid of the encum- brance of the ample cloak, the folds of which might only have embarrassed the nimble play of her delicate feet and robust legs as she slid gently down. Her lithe form, possessing all the supple- ness of a Bayadere and the elasticity of a serpent, seemed to adapt itself yieldingly to the swaying of the rope and to every movement that she her- self made in her perilous descent; nor less was it apparent that if with a perfect symmetry she blended great muscular power, to her love for her mistres she also united an extraordinary moral courage. But tis done!—her delicate fect touch the peve- meut—and she atands safely in the street! A minute has scarcely elapsed since she crept forth from the window abovet The moment she thus stands upon firm ground, she picks up the cloak and the bonnet, and her semi-nude form is again 47* ordered hair is gathered up hastily beneath the straw-bat. Then she takes the end of one length of the rope only, and by pulling it towards her, draws it down from the cheat of drawers in the boudoir, just as a rope passes over a dram-wheel when one end is detached. She now coils up this ropa of shawis witb the utmost despatch—oonceals it under her mantle—and hurries away. Thus the only outward and visible trace that is left of her exploit, is the open window of the boudoir: but being an upper one, the watchman—even if he saw it when passing by—would not think it necessary to raise an alarm on that account. Away sped Gertrude to Soho Square: and on reaching Mrs. Gale's establishment, she was imme- diately admitted, some of the servarts of that ests- blishment remaining up all night. On asking for Mr. Gale, she was told that this “lady” had re- tired to reat: but Gertrude, by stating that her comliclbooks.com