The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

THE PREFECTURE OF POLICE 193 if the present adventure upon which his neighbour had embarked, and in which he himself was about to participate, if this adventure, we say, should end in the accomplishment of an escape. then, within a very few days, might he fold in his arms that beloved Louisa whose image was ever upper- most in his mind, and on whose behalf he experienced so much anxiety. The clocks had struck eleven some time when Jocelyn sud- denly became aware that the sounds of the previous night were recommencing in the wall of the alcove. He threw him- self upon the bed, applied his ear to the wainscot, and listened attentively. Yes, his adventurous neighbour was evidently taking out all the loosened mortar and masonry from the aperture; and in a few minutes he was satisfied that she was continuing the process of perforation by whatsoever instru- ment it was that she used. Jocelyn continued to listen with breathless attention, until presently he heard the instrument itself come in contact with the wainscot to which his ear was applied. Then suddenly all was still. “Ts that woodwork?’ suddenly inquired a soft female voice from the other side. Jocelyn answered in the afhrmative. ' “Then if you are indeed anxious to escape,” resumed that same musical voice, ““ or if you will, at all events, assist me to escape, you must contrive to remove a portion of the wainscot.’’ Jocelyn at once gave the lady such assurances that must have satisfied her both as to his own desire for self-emanci- pation and his readiness to succour all her heroic attempts. He then drew forth the bedstead from the alcove, and by means of the knife which had been left with his supper-tray, he speedily loosened a panel of the woodwork and lifted it from its setting. He now perceived that an excavation had been made of nearly two feet square through a wall upwards of a foot thick. “Take all these implements — haste! — quick!” said the lady in the adjoining room; and as she thus spoke impatiently, but with the rich melody of youthfulness in her voice, she thrust several articles through the opening. These consisted of a ladder made of twisted silk and pieces of fire-wood, two or three files, a. bottle containing a yellow CONNICLOO© Ss (C(O)