The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XI THE FEMALE GARB In consequence of the colonel’s watch having stopped, he was about twenty minutes later than the hour of appoint- ment at the private door of the palace, and Jessica therefore had to wait his arrival. When he made his appearance, she chided him for this delay, but he at once explained the cause, expressing his deep sorrow for the circumstance. The abigail led him up into the passage communicating with the Sackvilles’ suite of apartments, and on reaching the door of the chamber where, as we have already seen, Mrs. Malpas and the prince were together, Jessica stooped down and felt for the key. But it was not there, and for a moment she thought that perhaps Lady Sackville might have either forgotten to place it under the mat, or, on a second thought, had purposely left it inside. Malpas in- quired in a low whisper wherefore Jessica seemed bewildered, and she hurriedly explained that she was searching for the key of the apartment. ‘This was the whispering that the prince and Mrs. Malpas had overheard, as already described. Jessica now tried the handle, but, as we have also stated, the door moved not. Then she tapped gently, and when answered she intimated in a low voice that Colonel Malpas was with her, whereupon, to her own amazement and to the mingled rage and disappointment of the colonel himself, a voice from inside, and which he supposed to be Venetia’s, announced a change of mind and ordered Malpas to depart. Jessica actually staggered back from the door, and turning her eyes upon the colonel, she saw that he was pale with rage and quivering from head to foot. ‘“ Stop,” she said, ‘“‘ there is some mistake. I must go and see. Remain here for a single moment, and if you meet 89 CORNICLOO cS (CO) im