The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER IX THE DOOMED WOMAN RETURN we once more to Geneva, the scene of so many and startling incidents already chronicled in our narrative. It was ten o’clock at night when Jocelyn Loftus rang the bell at the entrance of the gloomy prison. The gate was immediately opened by the porter, who inquired his business. ‘“‘T wish to see the Englishwoman named Ranger who is to die to-morrow,” was the answer given by our hero. “It is too late, sir,” replied the porter. ‘‘ The prison hours — ”’ ‘Here!’ said Loftus, producing a paper from his pocket. ‘‘ It is an order from the syndics to admit me.”’ The man glanced his eye over the paper, bowed with much respect, and said, ‘‘ Have the kindness, sir, to follow me.” Thus speaking, the porter conducted our hero along the gloomy passage, which was dimly lighted by an iron lamp suspended to the ceiling, and turning into another stone corridor he led him into a large room, where a turnkey, two or three of the prison watchmen, and the sergeant of the guard stationed within the walls of the establishment were lounging upon benches, smoking their pipes, and drinking the small wine of the country. The porter gave the written order to the turnkey, who forthwith took up a lantern and requested Jocelyn to accompany him. The porter returned to his lodge at the gate, and our hero followed the turnkey through the apartment into another long passage on the farther side. They then traversed a large courtyard sur- rounded by the lofty buildings constituting that particular division of the gaol. But in one window only did a light shine. | ‘“‘ That is where the three men are who are to be guillotined 79 (C(CO)INN (C (O JI WKS a