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.

150 THE COURT OF LONDON Hastening away from his hiding-place, Bernard Audley paused for a few moments at the fence skirting the road, in order to assure himself that his evil genius — as he considered Lilian Halkin to be — was not nigh at hand, and perceiving no one, he without further hesitation passed into the garden. At first his intention was to knock at the front door, and as he knew that only one servant was kept, and this servant was now absent, it would be absolutely necessary for Louisa Stanley herself to answer the summons, when he might rush in and take possession of the citadel. But thinking that if it were possible to gain admittance stealthily, creep up to Louisa’s chamber, and vanquish her at the moment of stupor and amazement into which his presence would prob- ably throw her, this plan would be much the better one, he hastily made the circuit of the cottage to reconnoitre. There was a back door opening from the kitchen, and this the minor canon at once tried. It yielded to his touch, and with a renewed, or, rather, enhancing glow of exultation, he passed into the cottage. As the dwelling was but small, he experienced no trouble in groping his way from the kitchen to the foot of the staircase, and there he paused for a minute to listen. He heard light feet moving overhead. These could be only thesteps of Louisa Stanley, and he said to himself, ‘‘ She is going into her aunt’s room, perhaps with the intention of remaining there until the servant returns. But no; it was merely to see that her relative was duly cared for. And now she goes back into her own chamber.” He then took off his shoes and crept stealthily as a cat up the carpeted stairs. Fortunately for his design, they creaked not, and noiselessly as any intrusive thief did he ascend to the little landing above. Through a small window shone a sufficiency of light to show him two doors facing each other, and from the observations he had made ere entering the cottage he was at no loss to discover which was the one leading into Louisa’s room. For a single instant, and only for an instant, he trembled and wished himself away; but the very next moment the thought that on the other side of that door was the beauteous creature whom he had so long and so ardently coveted made all his passions fire up again with irresistible force. His fingers sought the handle of the door, he turned it. Suddenly he rushed in, and a wild comicloooks (CO) in