The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

THE GLASS DOOR 123 over the middle arch, on the left hand side of the bridge as you cross it.”’ “Tt is a bargain,’ observed the prince. ‘“‘ And now you may leave me.”’ Daniel Coffin accordingly retired by the private staircase, the prince following him to unfasten the door at the bottom. We need hardly inform our readers that Sir Douglas Huntingdon was so astounded, so amazed, by all he had just heard, that he could scarcely believe the evidence of his own senses. If he had occasionally failed to catch a few words here and there, in the preceding colloquy, he had neverthe- less heard the greater portion, — enough, indeed, to make the whole tremendous episode in the prince’s career perfectly plain to his comprehension. That his Royal Highness should have so deeply committed himself with such a man as Daniel Coffin was more than enough to confound the baronet and stagger his belief. Indeed, as he moved slowly away from the glass door at the conclusion of the scene, he asked himself, ‘Is this a reality, or is it a vision? Am I awake, or walking in my sleep? ”’ Quitting the antechamber, threading the long passage, and crossing the landing once more, the baronet wended his way back to Venetia’s boudoir, on entering which, he found her alone, reclining on the sofa, and wrapped in pro- found meditation. ‘“] have returned,” said the baronet, ‘‘ simply because I may have an alteration to make in our proceedings of to- morrow night. Something has occurred which is suggestive of a change of tactics, placing, indeed, the principal inmates of Leveson House more completely in my power than ever. But I shall not now trouble you with explanations, Venetia. Suffice it for you to know that you shall not only baffle the marquis, but likewise behold him so deeply humiliated that he shall throw himself at your feet in an agony oi terror, a erovelling, servile, miserable wretch.”’ ‘Oh, if you can accomplish all this,’’ exclaimed Venetia, her countenance, a few moments before SO pensive, now lighting up with joy, ‘“‘ you know not how happy you vol render me, and how deeply, deeply grateful I shall prove.”’ “Fear not, dear Venetia,’ responded the baronet, “‘ that I shall fail in accomplishing all I promise. Indeed,” he added, with a look of profound and tender meaning, “ the connicloooks (C(O)