The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

76 THE COURT OF LONDON but without breathing a word, he secured Lady Lechmere’s note and the packet of forged bills about his person; and finding no other document of any consequence in the writing-desk, he tossed back the various letters and papers which he had disturbed, but without giving himself the trouble to relock the desk. There was now no necessity to attempt any concealment as to the search which he had instituted. But he did not immediately leave the room; he appeared to hesitate what course to pursue. He looked at Gertrude, not with the gaze of desire; no heart had he at this moment for tender thoughts or sensual pursuits. His outraged honour and his wife’s crimes were the all-engrossing subject of his thoughts, the all-powerful influence that enchained his heart’s keenest emotions. But he fixed his eyes upon Gertrude for a few moments, to ascertain whether there were any signs of contrition about her, — whether, in a word, there was any chance of her turning against her mistress. But though her countenance was also pale as his own, it nevertheless expressed nought save a moody sullenness, mingled with an expression of hatred, — as if, on the one hand, she knew the case was desperate so far as her mistress was concerned, but that, on the other, she longed to wreak her vengeance upon the earl himself for having discovered his wife’s perfidy. The nobleman was too proud to reiterate his proposals to a girl who gave him no encouragement to do so; and he was about to quit the boudoir when he suddenly recollected that Gertrude might steal out of the house and warn Editha of what was in store for her, thereby preparing her to meet a storm which the earl was desirous should burst with overwhelming suddenness upon her head. Accordingly, throwing another significant glance upon the abigail, he said, with a cold irony, ‘‘ Since you are so fond of personat- ing your mistress with regard to her dress, Gertrude, you may now occupy her place in this boudoir till the morning, for I suppose that she purposes to remain abroad all night.” Having thus spoken, the Earl of Curzon stalked out of the room, locking the door and taking the key with him. CORNICE OOOKS (E(@)