The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER X THE GUILLOTINE Ir was eleven o’clock in the forenoon, and brightly shone the sun in a heaven of unclouded azure. Lake Leman never seemed more beautiful, or the Alpine scenery in the distance more sublimely grand. It was a day fitted only for universal rejoicing, and to serve as a holiday to commemorate some happy event. But though the streets of Geneva were crowded to excess, and multitudes were pouring in from all the surrounding districts, yet was it no festive occasion. For there, in the principal square of the republican city, stood a sinister object, and the golden beams of the cloudless sun were reflected in the hideous ax of the guillotine. Yes, an immense crowd was collected, and the windows, balconies, and roofs of all the dwellings looking upon the spot were put into requisition by the anxious spectators. Pity was it that so many, many young damsels, wearing the pic- turesque attire of the rural districts or the mountain heights in the neighbourhood, should have donned their Sunday raiment for such an occasion, but soit was. The pretty caps, white as the snow upon the Alpine summits in the distance, and resting upon hair arranged in heavy masses or else in beauteous braids, those bodices laced with coloured ribbons, and imprisoning busts modelled in the most voluptuous style of woman’s symmetry, those gracefully flowing petticoats, leaving so much of the well-shaped legs displayed, all assuredly set off the charms of the Genevese damsels to their utmost advantage; but, ah! were these damsels gathered in that market-place now for the mere purpose of being seen and admired? No, on this occasion they scarcely thought of themselves. They had put on their Sunday raiment because it was their habit to do so when stealing a day from 97 (C(O) nn) ( | ) KS { | nin