The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

84 THE COURT OF LONDON being observed wandering about the house with a candle. Like spirits did they steal from the lower regions up into the hall, and as noiselessly and carefully did they thence ascend the principal staircase to the stories above. There they speedily possessed themselves of half a dozen keys, which the expert lady’s-maid, whose presence of mind exceeded that of her mistress, tried in the lock of the boudoir door. Nor was she disappointed in the calculation she had made, inasmuch as one of them turned easily in the lock. Editha and Gertrude entered, locking the door behind them, although the latter did not purpose to remain long in the boudoir. To shut down the window and put the furniture back into its place, were now the next steps adopted by Editha and her maid; and notwithstanding they were in the dark, they nevertheless made these adjustments as noiselessly as possible. Gertrude then assisted Editha to undress herself; and having done this, she prepared to leave her ladyship for the rest of the night, or, rather, for the next few hours of the morning. “Pray sustain your spirits, my lady,” said the faithful girl, ‘‘ and there is no telling what may happen for the best. But mind when your ladyship locks the door after me that you take out the key, so that when his lordship comes in the morning there may be no impediment to his unlocking the door. Then what will be his surprise at finding your ladyship here instead of me! ”’ Editha was about to make some reply, when a noise, as of some one moving about the house, reached their ears. They remained dead silent, holding their very breath to listen. The sounds of footsteps stealthily creaking ap- proached the door of that boudoir, and now Gertrude, with admirable presence of mind, drew forth the key from the lock. “Why did you do that?’”’ asked Editha, in the lowest possible whisper. ‘Oh, my dear lady,’’ responded Gertrude, in a tone of concentrated joy, though likewise speaking in a whisper, ‘““ because I suddenly behold a means of accomplishing your salvation. Hush, hush! ’’ And in a few moments, as the steps outside stopped at the door, the lady and the maid both heard a key cautiously introduced into the lock. Thereupon the Countess of Curzon Gomicbdooks (E(0)