The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE SEQUEL 3 ‘Then perhaps you know a better way?” rejoined the Hangman, inquiringly. ‘‘ Yes, there is another means of issue from this house,” said Ernestina. “Well, so much the better. Any way will do if it don’t lead into Albemarle Street, where the runner is watching. Come, there is no time to Lose. oe “It is through the secret apartments that we must pro- ceed,’’ remarked Lady Ernestina, “and thither must we repair with the utmost caution. But it is now two o’clock in the morning. The guests are gone, the house is quiet. One minute, and I shall be prepared to take my departure.”’ With these words, Lady Ernestina proceeded to arrange her dress, and also to put up the shining masses of her hair. She then resumed her cloak and bonnet, and having listened for a few moments on the landing to convince herself that everything was quiet in the house, she returned to the toilet- table, took up a wax taper in her hand, and beckoning to the Hangman, said, ‘‘ Now come.” Noiselessly did they descend the sales, and on the land- ing below, Lady Ernestina opened the door leading into the bedroom communicating with the dressing-room whence there was a secret entrance into the private apartments. Traversing this bedchamber,— the same which Ariadne Varian had occupied, — Ernestina conducted the Hangman into the room containing the mechanical chairs. This place the fellow knew well, for twice before had he been in these apartments, — once when he was found captive in the» chair by Lady Ernestina and the prince, and the other time when employed by Sir Douglas Huntingdon to aid his scheme in rescuing Venetia from the clutches of the Marquis of Leveson. “ Everything is just the same as when I last saw it,” observed Coffin, as on following Ernestina into this room with the mechanical chairs he swept his eyes around. “ But which way is it now, my beauty, that we are to go? I hope through the gallery yonder, because I think the mere look of some of the pictures and statues there would make you love even your humble servant, Dan’el Coffin.”’ ‘ Silence! — no jesting! ” cried Lady Ernestina. ‘‘ There! pass on that way. I follow you.’ She did indeed point to the gallery, and Coffin unhesi- CORnNICLA@O® C©