The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

THE KEY UNDER THE MAT 79 enough for Captain Tash’s ears, sharpened as they were by his curiosity, to catch what she said. “No, I have assisted Mrs. Malpas to undress,” responded Venetia, also in a low tone, but which was nevertheless audible to the eavesdropping captain. “Then shall I now go?” asked Jessica, with a significant look. “Yes, it is eleven o’clock,’’ said Lady Sackville, and closing the door again, she disappeared from the captain’s view. Jessica then tripped lightly along the passage, and in another minute or two Venetia came forth from the room opposite. But as she still held the door open in her hand, she looked back and said, in an encouraging tone, ‘‘ Good night, my dear friend, and may the issue be as we antici- pate.”’ She then came forward, closed the door, locked it, and placed the key under the fringed mat which was set against the threshold. Having done this, Venetia retraced her way along the passage, and in a few moments the sound of a door closing reached the ears of Captain Tash. Feeling assured that she had entered some room, — most probably her boudoir, which the captain knew to be in that passage, — he issued forth from his place of concealment and hurried back to the apartment where he had left the prince regent. “Well, what became of you?’ demanded his Royal Highness. ‘‘ You have been absent full twenty minutes, and I was just going to ring the bell and order a servant to look after you.’ “Do not talk, sir, for Heaven’s sake!’ said Tash, evi- dently labouring under some strange kind of excitement. “Let me speak — there is not a moment to spare. The strangest adventure in all the world — ”’ “ Well, what in the name of patience is it? ’? demanded the prince. “Mrs. Malpas is here — beneath this roof,’ answered Tash. “ She is going to pass the night here. She is at this moment alone in her bedroom,—a bedroom belonging to the Sackvilles’ suite of apartments, and Lady Sackville herself conducted her thither. I saw it all—JI hid myself and listened — ”’ CORNICLOOL <S (C(O) am