The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRIVATE APARTMENTS 51 had been left in the Crimson Drawing-room, and the Hang- man at once perceived that it was none other than the brilliant Lady Sackville who was accompanying the Marquis of Leveson to that suite of rooms to which he would have dared conduct no lady save for the purpose of gallantry and intrigue. As for Venetia herself, she was at once so amazed, so con- founded, on beholding this dreadful man seated captive in — one of the chairs, that she had no presence of mind to avert her head, much less to retreat and thus avoid recognition. A similar suspension of all the powers of volition nailed the marquis to the spot, rendering him unmindful of the fact that the honour of Venetia was suddenly compromised to a fearful extent, and, indeed, depriving him for the moment of all power to think or act. But suddenly starting, as it were, into the keenest con- sciousness of her position, Venetia gave vent to a cry, and hastily retreating, threw herself upon a sofa in the first room of the suite, and out of sight of the terrible Hangman. At the same moment the Marquis of Leveson, recovering his presence of mind, advanced close up to the ruffian, saying, in a stern voice, but with a look denoting the most highly ~ wrought curiosity, ‘‘ What in Heaven’s name brought you hither? ”’ “My own nee folly, I should think,’’? was Daniel Coffin’s savage reply. ‘‘ But come, make haste and let me loose, my lord, or, by Satan, it’ll the worse for somebody before I’ve done.”’ ‘“Stop one moment,’ said the marquis. ‘‘ What guar- antee will you give me— But do you know that lady? ”’ ‘“‘ Bless you, I know her well enough. All the world knows her,’ responded the Hangman. “ But it’s no business of mine if she chooses to come here with your lordship. Let me loose, and that’s all I care about.” “ Well, but how came you here? ”’ reiterated the marquis. ‘““T must have an answer to that question.” ‘“Why, in plain terms, I paid your precious niece a visit,’ answered Coffin, ‘“‘ and she, enticing me here, flung me into the chair. It is a deuced good lark — Ah! ah!” and he affected to chuckle good-humouredly, ‘ though rather a trying condition for a fellow to be in. But, how- ever, just let me loose.” CONMIC 0)(0)©) ESS ( in