The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 277: what you’re looking at

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260 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “Wor Heaven’s sake tell me,’ exclaimed Christian, ‘whether anything—” and then he abruptly stopped short, fearing lest the valet was acting as the earl’s spy. “Do not be afraid of me, Mr. Ashton,” continued Make- peace; “‘ l am secretly disposed in your favour. The best proof is that it was I who procured the duplicate key for you, and left it with Lord Osmond’s note at your lodgings yes- terday. I can full well understand the reason you are not to enter the grounds this evening: it is simply because the earl has taken it into his head to join the party in their walk.” . “Thank you for this assurance,” replied Christian, his mind now infinitely relieved, for his first and very natural misgiving was that Isabella might have become involved in fresh trouble on his account. , He then bade Makepeace “ good night,’ and returned to his lodging, much disappointed, however, at not being enabled to meet Isabella. Makepeace hastily reéntered the erounds, and at once proceeded to the spot just inside the garden gate where he had heard the footsteps, the muttered ejaculations, and the grating metallic sounds, which had so much perplexed him. At first, he could see nothing, but a closer scrutiny showed him a man-trap, with its teethed jaws wide apart, ready to receive and to close upon any unfor- tunate lez that might step between. Indeed the valet’s own leg experienced but a narrow escape from being caught therein, as he was searching about upon the spot. “This is extraordinary,’ thought Makepeace to himself, but his knowledge of the earl’s character speedily made him aware that it was a device of that nobleman’s fertile brain. “Tt is pretty clear that the old man suspects or knows something, but how the deuce could it have come to his knowledge? At all events I am not suspected, for his lord- ship was as kind to me to-day as ever, and I know the old bird too well to be deceived by such kindness if it were not perfectly natural. The cunning dog! He thought he would keep this entirely to himself. He expects to catch young Ashton, and he will come here presently to see whether his victim is fast in the trap.”’ Makepeace was strolling away from the gate, when a mis- chievous idea struck him. “Wouldn’t he be astonished,” thought the valet to him- CONNIE NO KS (E(0)