The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER X MORE MYSTIFICATION WE may now explain to the reader the precise manner in which the Countess of Curzon had been accustomed to manage her intrigues through the agency of Lady Lechmere. As was particularly the case in those times, with married couples in high life who did not live upon the very best terms together, the Earl and Countess of Curzon frequently occupied separate bedchambers, the earl having an apartment which was called his own private one, and the countess having her boudoir. It was therefore comparatively an easy thing for her ladyship occasionally to stay out all night if she chose, the only precaution needful being to prevent the servants (Gertrude excepted) from discovering the fact. Hence the contrivance into which the reader has already obtained something more than an insight. Thus, for instance, the countess went in full dress and in her own carriage to Lady Lechmere’s house; a few hours later Gertrude met her there. Their apparel was speedily changed, and while Gertrude, playing the part of countess, was driven back in the carriage, the countess herself repaired whithersoever she chose. Then, at daybreak, apparelled as Gertrude, the countess would return to the mansion in safety. If seen thus coming home by any of the servants, the supposition was that the young lady’s-maid — for whom, of course, Editha would be taken — had passed the night at her parents’ house; and on the occasions when these stratagems were to be carried into effect, Gertrude was wont to take the pre- caution in the evening of casually mentioning in the servants’ hall that she had received permission from her mistress to remain with her mother till the following morning. But there was another phase which the stratagem assumed, 93 (C(O) CoOnnicloooks