The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIII THE EARL’S VENGEANCE It was the custom of Lady Lechmere, whenever these manceuvrings were going on with respect to Editha and Gertrude, to remain in the room which thus so conveniently served the purpose of the intrigue, and this she did not only to sustain the idea amongst her dependents that she was thus closeted for hours together with her bosom friend the © Countess of Curzon, but likewise to guard against any intru- sion into this chamber. Gertrude, therefore, always felt completely at her ease and was lulled into perfect security whe ever she was thus periorming the part of her mistress at Lady Lechmere’s house. On the present occasion the handsome young lady’s- maid, dressed in a velvet robe belonging to her mistress, was reclining negligently upon the sofa as the Earl of Curzon entered the room. As he opened the door quietly and without violence, Gertrude thought it was Lady Lechmere coming back, and she did not immediately turn her head. But as the earl stood still to survey the half-recumbent form of the good-looking Gertrude, she wondered that Lady Lechmere (as she fancied it to be) should have stopped short; and suddenly looking around, she gave vent to an ejaculation of dismay as she recognized her master. “ Ah! my dear Editha,” said the earl, affecting to believe that it was his wife; and as he at once advanced toward the sofa, he purposely overturned a little work-table on which stood the two wax lights. Then, as the candles were thus suddenly extinguished and utter darkness prevailed all in a moment, he placed himself on the sofa and took Gertrude in his arms, saying, ‘‘ I beg you ten thousand pardons, my dear Editha, for my awkwardness in thus upsetting the 112 " - ’ net RO eS \ EORMIELNOO) KS (E(0) =}