The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

THE DAGGER 320 countenance, as if to penetrate whether any ulterior thought or feeling, motive or significancy, lay hidden beneath that icily dignified aspect. ‘Where did I find the dagger?’”’ she said. ‘ It was in one of the rooms of the mansion. But why question me thus? Methought, my lord, that I was to hear the humblest apol- ogy— Yet no!” she indignantly exclaimed, and now her eyes flashed fire. ‘‘ No language in the world has power to convey an excuse for such villainy as yours. I will tell you frankly, my lord, that I read your purpose. I was not deceived by the miserably shallow artifice so flimsily wrapped up in the tale of your wife’s arrival and indisposition. Consequently I was prepared, and you know how well.” “ But will you not pardon me? Will you not pronounce the word forgiveness? ’’ cried the duke, who was evidently bewildered, indeed half-frenzied by the thoughts that were agitating in his whirling brain. “Forgiveness? No!” and Indora at once turned to leave the drawing-room. “For Heaven’s sake, stop!’’ cried the duke, hastening toward her in a supplicating manner. “ If you will not grant me your pardon, at all events give me the assurance that you will do me no injury.”’ ‘“T have triumphed so effectually in the circumstances to which you allude,” replied Indora, “‘ that I need scarcely hesitate to promise that it 1s my purpose to keep silent in respect to your infamy. But understand me well, — that if you dare breathe a single syllable prejudicial to my honour, if it come to my knowledge that when heated with wine, and in that boasting mood which at times takes possession of all libertines, you have proclaimed the fact that I was a visitress here, in a word, my lord, if you have the hardihood to make an allusion to me in the least way disrespectful, that moment shall I be absolved from my pledge, I will go before a magistrate, I will acquaint him with all that oc- curred, not even omitting,’ — and Indora’s dark eyes were fixed penetratingly upon the duke, — “‘ not even omitting, I say, the circumstance how I defended myself with that selisame dagger which dealt death to the uncle whose title and fortune you inherited.”’ Having thus spoken, the Princess Indora issued from the drawing-room; and the duke, closing the door behind her, CONNIClOO© SS} (C(O)