The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

. 270 REYNOLDS’ WORKS myself were also dead, for of course I am aware that the entail descends upon the females as well as upon the males of the family.” ‘“And why is it supposing an impossibility? ’? demanded the old earl. ‘“‘ There is nothing impossible, as I fully proved when I rode the wild elephant in Africa.’’ Adolphus gave vent to an ejaculation of impatience. ‘You wilful dog,” growled the old earl; “‘ you persevere in forcing me to tell you everything. Suppose, then, only suppose, I say, that some sudden exposure took place, and it became proved that you— But come! marry the girl and have done with 1t.”’ “Rather, you must speak out,” exclaimed Lord Osmond, now much excited, and with a suspense that was really poignant. ‘* For Heaven’s sake tell me what you mean!” ‘“T mean, Adolphus,’’ replied the earl, himself considerably excited and painfully bewildered, “ that though I have no doubt you are the son of your father and mother, neverthe- less your father isn’t your father and your mother wasn’t your mother.” | Adolphus gazed upon the earl as if he thought he was going mad, and yet even from that strange conglomeration of absurd contradictions and ridiculous paradoxes, there seemed to be a certain idea to be eliminated, — a startling deduction to be made. Adolphus was frightened; a cold shiver, like a presentiment of evil, ran through him; he es- sayed to speak, but vainly gasped for utterance. “There is no harm in it if you marry the girl,’ continued the old nobleman, “ and the world need never be the wiser, — at least I hope not. For even if the truth did some day trans- pire, you could but lose the title; you would have all the estates by right of your wife, to whom they would devolve by entail.” Adolphus sat upon his chair as if he were in the midst of a dream. All the words which the earl had just uttered ap- peared to confirm the wild, the startling, the almost 1m- possible idea which his former incoherent speech had con- jured up. The colour forsook the young man’s countenance; he felt as if he were about to faint. There was fortunately a decanter of water upon the table; he filled a glass and drank a long draught. “You are saying all this to coerce me into a marriage CONNIE NOL KS (E(0)