Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

THRICE WEDDED. 156 He opened the drawer in the table before wlioh they sat, and, taking out a wig and heavy pair of whiskers, put them n. “Ah! I should never know you for the same man,” exclaimed Fredrich, in surprise; then asked, ‘“‘But why is this disguise necessary? Do they know you: p “Because,” he answered, as he removed the wig and whiskers and replaced them in the drawer, ‘‘I have been a sort of ally of the squire’s in my present character, and am therefore in the secret of what he is up to.” ‘““My friend, if I indeed can call you so, you surprise me more and more; you are a mystery, and I scarcely know whether to call you friend or foe,” said Weimher, with a troubled look. “T will soon convince you with regard to that,” returned Edgerton, with a peculiar smile. ‘‘I have told you that I am one of the smugglers’ band, ana I will now explain how it happens. Some few years ago, while I was in the United: States, I came across a couple of fellows—I call them fellows, because they appeared to be rough, rude men when [ first saw them, though they had known better days. ‘They were sons of an Italian nobleman, and were on the track of this very self-same squire. Ah! I tell you he has been a wicked one in his day,” said the man, with a gleam of hate in his eye. } | “I believe you; but go on,” returned Fredrich, earnestly, “Tt seems that he, Moulton, had married their only sister secretly, and then, on discoverlng that her father was insol- vent, deserted her, proclaiming their marriage a farce, and leaving her to bear alone the cruel sufferings of poverty and childbirth. She died when the child was born—a beautiful — gitl, the image of her mother—and the brothers took their oath that they would hunt the villain to his death. They had a small fortune of their own, but spent it all before they had got any trace of him, and as a last resort joined this band of smugglers, which has branches all over the world; but this place seems to be the principal rendezvous, and I assure you itis no ‘den,’ but a veritable palace. People — have an idea that it is somewhere in the region of that ledge of rocks yonder, and have sought it for years, but have been wholly unsuccessful as yet. | ‘‘As I was saying, these Italians were on some business for the band when I came across them, and, learning their comicboo €Oo <S