The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

rere elie ier eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ] | | -yeached their ears. ee 371 lady’s-maid proceed together. The boudoir-window was still open; and not a light was visible in apy part of the house. That Gertrude’s flight had re- mained undiscovered was therefore evident; and that the Earl had retired to rest was presumable, if not certain. Editha and her maid descended the area-steps and entered the house by means of a duplicate key of the servants’ door which her ladyship nad in her pos: session. During the waik home from Soho Square, they had determined what course to pursue. Most of the locks of the upper chambers were of pretty well the same pattern; and Gertrude had assured her mistress that several of the bedroom-keys fitted each other’s doors, and that it was more than pro- bable one of them would suit that of the boudoir. If this should prove to be the case, it was decided that the Countess should take possession of the boudoir, so that the Earl might be completely astounded when he went thither with the idea of liberating Gertrude in the morning,—it being also hoped by the two artful women that this mystification would render him more pliant and accessible to apy arti- fices that might be adopted to explain away the pre- sent suspicions. But on the other hand, if no key could be found to open the boudoir, then it was re- solved that the Countess should pass the night in another chamber, and that all the rest should be left entirely to the chapter of accidents. : Such were the plans deliberated upon and settled during the hurried twenty minutes’ walk from Soho Square to Grosvenor Street; and now that Editha and her faithful abigail were once more within the walls of Curzon House, the heart of each beat with acute suspense. They had to grope their way in the dark, not daring to run the risk of being observed wandering about the house with a candle. Like spirits did they steal from the lower regions up into the hall; and as noiselessly and carefully did they thence ascend the principal staircase to the storeys above. There they speedily possessed themselves of half-a-dozen keys, which the expert lady’s-maid, whose presence of mind exceeded that of her mis- tress, tried in the lock of the boudoir-door. Nor was she disappointed in the calculation she had made, inasmuch as one of them turned easily in the lock. Editha and Gertrude entered, locking the door behind them, although the latter did not purpose to remain long in the boudoir. To shut down the window and put the furniture back into its place, were now the next steps adopted by Editha and her maid; and notwithstanding they were in the dark, they nevertheless made these adjustments as noiselessly as possible. Gertrude then assisted Editha to undress herself; and having done this, she prepared to leave her ladyship for the rest of the night—or rather for the next few hours of the morning. “Pray sustain your spirits, my lady,” said the faithful girl, “and there is no telling what may happen for the best. But mind when your lady- ship locks the door after me that you take out the key, so that when his lordship comes in the morn- ing there may be no impediment to his unlocking the door. ‘Then what will be his surprise at find- ing your Jadyship here instead of me!” Editha was about to make some reply, when a noise, as of some one moving about the house, They remained dead silent, ee ee oS em ee + ee OD ee holding their very breath to listen. The sounds of footsteps stealthily creaking, approached the door of that boudoir: and now Gertrude, with admirable presence of mind, drew forth the key from the lock. “Why did you do that?” asked Editha, in the lowest possible whisper. “Oh! my dear lady,” responded Gertrude, in a tone of concentrated joy, though likewise speaking in a whisper,—“ because I suddenly behold a means of accomplishing your salvation! Hush—hush!” And in a few moments, as the steps outside stopped at the door, the lady and the maid bota heard a key cautiously introduced into the lock. Thereupon, the Countess of Curzon, suddenly divined the truth—that same truth which had al- ready struck Gertrude, and the important results of which the astute girl had immediately foreseen. Yes—it was now apparent enough to Editha also: her husband, the Earl, was no doubt coming to share the couch of the lady’s- maid ! A few more whispered words passed rapidly be- tween Editha and Gertrude—but so low that they were only just audible to themselves, and could not have been heard by anybody even at a couple of yards’ distance. That the Earl was approaching without a light was certain, because not a ray gleamed through the key-hole, nor shone under the door. And now this door was slowly opened; and Gertrude, as- suming the frightened tone of one suddenly start- ing from her sleep, exclaimed, * Who is there ?” “°Tis I, dearest Gertrude!” answered the Earl, in a tone that was tremulous with desire: and he closed the door behind him. “But, my lord—I thought that you had con- ceived a hatred for me ere now?” exclaimed the abigail, in a deprecatory tone. ‘Ah! but £ was enraged, dear girl—cruelly en- raged,” replied Curzon, now pausing to lock the door. “But on retiring to rest Il could not sleep —and gradually your image rose up in my mind, until at last it has so far got the better of all other thoughts and impressions, that I have resolved to enjoy a few hours of love and bliss in your arms, and leave until to-morrow the vexations, the scan- dals, and the exposures that may belong thereto. So let me embrace thee, dearest Gertrude—let me embrace thee!” cried the Earl, his voice now swelling with the tremulous exultation of desire mingled with anticipated triumph. And through the utter darkness of that boudoir did he feel his way towards the couch, into which Editha—his own wife Editha—had stealthily crept, while Gertrude had glided away, after answering him, into the farthest corner of the room. ” ¥ H + + + * * * * * “ Wherefore will you not speak to me, dearest girl ?” asked the Earl of Curzon, in a voice stifling with desire. “Ah! you murmur something with those sweet lips of your's but L cannot catch your words——no matter——-I kiss your lips, and you kiss back again! ‘The faithless Editha this is almost punishment enough for her perfidy, if she did but know it! But she can not know it —she will never know it! And you will turn against her, dear girl—will you not? Ah! where- fore that impatient ejaculation? Well, I will speak to you no more upon that topie—at least — — -.—— os GOmiiGovoOo (cC S) (CO)