The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

58 THE COURT OF LONDON again alone she began to deliberate with herself whether she should reveal to her uncle’s ears the tremendous outrage she had experienced from Daniel Coffin, and explain the fearful nature of the punishment which she was inflicting on that man. She felt the necessity of obtaining her uncle’s con- currence in this respect, so as to guard against the possibility of any one entering the secret apartments and effecting the liberation of the intended victim. But would her uncle become a party to the infliction of that frightful vengeance? Would he make himself an accomplice in the tremendous process of thus killing a human being by inches within the walls of that house? That was the question. But still, — when Ernestina passed in review all the arguments for or against the probable result, she came to the conclusion that her uncle would assist her in avenging so terrific an outrage and leaving the Hangman to his fate. Indeed, it would be impossible to permit so desperate a man to go forth into the world again as her implacable and unrelenting enemy. Such were Ernestina’s reflections during the maid servant’s temporary absence from the room, and the result was a deter- mination to tell her uncle everything. But when the domes- tic reappeared, bearing a tray containing refreshments, Ernestina was informed that the Marquis of Leveson had gone out suddenly and unexpectedly at about seven o’clock and had not yet returned. The real truth was that the faithful valet Brockman, knowing his lordship to be engaged in the Crimson Drawing- room, or elsewhere, with a lady, had purposely informed the maid servant that he had gone out, and hence the mes- sage now delivered by this female dependent to Ernestina. ‘In that case,’ said her ladyship, ‘‘ I will defer seeing my uncle till the morning. You may now retire, and I shall not need you any more this night.”’ When again alone, Ernestina began to reflect that, after all, it was perhaps much better her uncle was not at home. If he were, he might have objected to become an accomplice in the infliction of a slow, lingering, and terrible death upon Coffin; he might have insisted on liberating the wretch at all hazards and at any risks. ‘“‘ But since he has gone out,”’ thought Ernestina, continu- ing her musings as she sat up in bed to partake of the refresh- ments which had been brought, “it is most likely he will CORDICLOOO® (CO)