The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

THE LADY’S - MAID 71 and he was now convinced that on that occasion there had been an exchange of apparel, and that it was really Gertrude whom he had seen proceed in the carriage to Lady Lech- mere’s, and his own countess whom he had importuned with his overtures in the street. That such had indeed been the case he was now the more convinced on calling to mind certain other little incidents that had occurred on the same evening. And what were they? First, he had thought to meet his wife in the hall when the carriage came back, but she whom he then took to be his wife had flitted past him, rushed up-stairs, and disappeared from his view. Almost immediately after, be it recollected, he had seen her whom he took for Gertrude hastening up the stairs, and overtaking her he had again addressed some words to her, but she had broken away and bounded up the stairs. This second equivoque, as it then happened, and as he now read it, appeared entirely con- firmatory of the fact that the lady and the lady’s-maid had changed apparel on the memorable evening alluded to, and that he had in reality taken Gertrude for his wife and his wife for Gertrude. All these recollections and the jae tea tion which he now put upon the incidents themselves were the subject of not more than a few moments’ reflection, though we have taken several minutes to recapitulate its circumstances and make the explanation apparent to the reader. To the earl it was speedily clear as daylight; he saw it all, understood it all, for the complete clue to those incidents of the past was now afforded by the swiniieenas exposure of the intrigues of the present. Gertrude, who was kneeling at his feet, had no difficulty in understanding from the varied though rapid expression which swept over his countenance what was passing in his mind; and now the keen sense of all the tremendous dangers which threatened her mistress inspired the girl, who neither lacked heroism nor artfulness, with a oro yeahs to save her if possible. “Oh, my lord,’ she exclaimed, rising from her knees, but still maintaining her hands clasped, ‘ forgive me, pardon me, if I have dared to assume a dress belonging to her ladyship. I know that it was very wrong, most arrogant and presumptuous on my part — ”’ Cconnicloooks (C(O)