The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

80 THE COURT OF LONDON takes the end of one length of the rope only, and by pulling it toward her, draws it down from the chest of drawers in the boudoir, just as a rope passes over a drum-wheel when one end is detached. She now coils up this rope of shawls with the utmost despatch, conceals it under her mantle, and hurries away. ‘Thus the only outward and visible trace that is left of her exploit is the open window of the boudoir; but being an upper one, the watchman, even if he saw it when passing by, would not think it necessary to raise an alarm on that account. Away sped Gertrude to Soho Square; and on reaching Mrs. Gale’s establishment, she was immediately admitted, some of the servants of that establishment remaining up all night. On asking for Mrs. Gale, she was told that this “lady ’’ had retired to rest; but Gertrude, by stating that her business was of the utmost importance, induced one of the servants to arouse the mistress of the place. Finally, after some little trouble, Gertrude was enabled to obtain an interview with Mrs. Gale; and the moment they were alone together, the damsel requested that she might see the Countess of Curzon immediately. Mrs. Gale asked if anything unpleasant had occurred, to which Gertrude replied in the affirmative, without, however, entering into particulars. Mrs. Gale, notwithstanding, heard enough to induce her to repair to the chamber where the countess and Emmerson were together; and, to be brief, in a few minutes Editha was conducted to the apartment where Gertrude had waited. Mrs. Gale withdrew; and the Countess of Curzon, who had only huddled on a few clothes, exclaimed, with a tone and look of poignant alarm, ‘‘ Good heavens, Gertrude! what has happened? ”’ | The abigail proceeded to narrate all that had taken place, — how the earl had returned, how he had discovered that she was disguised in her mistress’s apparel, how he had opened the desk and possessed himself of Lady Lechmere’s note as well as the forged bills, how he had locked her in the boudoir, and how she had escaped thence in the manner just described. It would be impossible to convey an idea of the thrilling, feverish, and rapid transitions of emotion through which the countess passed as these hurried incidents struck one Gomicdooks (E(@)