The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

THE SECOND ORDEAL 343 which she could no longer subdue. ‘ This proceeding is most unwarrantable, most indelicate on your part! Do you hear me, my lord?” ‘Ah! nowI am upon the right track! ’”’ exclaimed the earl, heedless of the lady’s remonstrance. ‘“ Come hither, Fer- nanda, come hither.” Lady Holderness was immediately by Eugene’s side, and she found that he had halted at the top of a staircase looking down at a door which stood at the bottom. “Yes, all my suspicions are confirmed, or rather my doubts are dispelled,’’ he said, in a rapid tone of joyous excitement. ‘‘ That is the door by which I entered. the building on the memorable night of mystery and infatuation; this is the staircase so thickly carpeted, and the real boudoir of darkness, perfume, and love must be reached by one of these doors which we have just passed by.” ‘“ My lord, I command you to leave the private department of my dwelling, and return to the drawing-room,”’ exclaimed Lady Bellenden, as she came hurrying along the passage, her features now ashy pale, her eyes dilating with rage and terror, and her lips white and quivering. ‘‘ Do you hear me, my lord?” she cried, as she clutched the earl violently by the arm. | ‘“‘ Beautiful Laura,” said the nobleman, with a mocking smile, ‘‘ you were not thus ferocious when you conducted me blindfold along this passage to the boudoir of love and darkness.” And disengaging himself from her convulsive grasp, he returned rapidly up the passage until he reached the first door on the right hand, which he endeavoured to open. It was locked; but without an instant’s hesitation, he burst it open with his foot, and then a cry of exultation thrilled from his lips. , Lady Holderness, who was following close behind him, looked back and flung a glance of malignant triumph upon Lady Bellenden, as this unhappy woman leaned against the wall of the passage for support, so overpowered was she by feelings of mingled shame, fury, and despair. | “Yes, this is the mysterious boudoir,” cried Earl Mont- gomery, as he entered the small but luxuriously furnished apartment, the shutters of which were now open; “ here is the sofa on which I lay, embraced in the arms of my then CONMUC boo eS (©)