The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

272 THE COURT OF LONDON During the short space which the colloquy, so far as it went, had occupied, the lady had continued walking on- ward; and in so doing she had approached nearer than at first to the edge of the cliffs, so that they were now within a dozen yards of the abyss. ‘“ You would have me raise my veil,’ the lady now sud- denly exclaimed, ‘‘ in order that you may see my counte- nance? Behold it, then!’ she added, in her natural voice, and flinging back her veil over her elegant bonnet, she revealed the features of Lilian Halkin. | ‘“ Ah!’’ ejaculated the minor canon, “ for the last two or three minutes I have not been altogether unprepared for this,’ and reining in his steed, he fixed his looks intently upon Lilian’s countenance, as if he sought to fathom her purpose. She also stopped short, and encountering his gaze with solemn seriousness of aspect, she said, ‘‘ Bernard Audley, for the last time we meet, and I wish you to hear a few words from my lips ere we part for ever.”’ “Well, speak then, Lilian,’”’ said the minor canon, scarcely able to conceal an expression of joy which rose to his features at the idea of being thenceforth rid of the continual super- vision of one whom he regarded as his evil genius. ‘‘ But tell me,”’ he immediately added, ‘‘ is it in friendship or enmity that you have so cunningly contrived this meeting, which you say is to be our last? Wherefore have you thrown aside your mourning? Was it the better to inveigle me hither to this interview? Or, rather, I should ask, why all this preparation, precaution, and mystery at all? Since you found out where I was residing, wherefore did you not come direct to me at the hotel and speak to me there? Are your proceedings ever to be characterized by this sort of romantic mysticism which you doubtless think invests you with a kind of terrorism over me, so as to enable you to wield an influ- ence upon all my actions? Speak, Lilian, I await your explanations.” ‘‘T shall not detain you long,’’ was the reply. ‘I have heard you patiently. It is now your turn to listen with equal attention to me, for this is the last time that you and I shall ever meet in this world. As I told you the other day, in the Dane John, you consider me your evil genius, but for a long series of years have I loved you with all a EOMGIOO S (C©) im