The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

216 THE COURT OF LONDON her reason were deserting her. But this terrible sensation almost immediately passed away; and, with a ghastly pallor of countenance, trembling limbs, and a heart palpitating violently, she crossed the threshold, closing the door behind her. For nearly half an hour did Mrs. Brace remain in the company of the two burglars; but of the nature of their interview we can at present form no conjecture. That painful reminiscences had been revived and feelings of in- tense anguish excited on her part, we can, however, affirm; for when the door again opened and she came forth, it was with features even more ghastly and corpselike than when she had entered that room. Whether the robbers went away empty-handed, or not, we cannot state; but for one fact we can vouch, namely, that the plate remained untouched on the sideboard, and that no valuables of any kind were plundered from the dining-room. Mrs. Brace herself conducted them to the shop door, which they had forced open in the first instance by means of skeleton keys and a crowbar; and when they had quitted the house she sank down upon a chair, covered her face with her hands, and burst into a flood of convulsive weeping. These tears relieved her; and, hurrying away from the shop, she stole cautiously back to her own bedchamber, which she gained without disturbing a soul. Sleep visited not her eyes for the remainder of that night. Painful thoughts racked her imagination and _ banished slumber; but as the hours passed slowly, slowly away, her excitement subsided, and she grew much calmer. It is often easy to conjure back hope where its presence is indispensable; and thus was it that Mrs. Brace succeeded in persuading herself that she should not again be molested by the dreaded individual who had paid her dwelling so ominous a visit during the night. She rose shortly after five o’clock, and entered her bath- room, where she plunged into the ice-cold water. Alike in winter and in summer did Mrs. Brace bathe her entire person in this manner; hence the well-preserved condition of her charms, and the plumpness of her form’s voluptuous con- tours. But never had the luxury of the cold bath appeared so CORNICLAOO