The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

A NIGHT AT OAKLANDS 343 specially related to the tragedy of a bygone year. For upwards of an hour did Lord Clandon and the steward thus remain in conversation in the deep darkness of that chamber, until at length the mysterious visitor was about to take his departure. ‘Purvis,’ he said, “‘you have rendered me a service the extent of which you may some day comprehend. But by everything sacred do I again conjure you to treat this visit of mine as if it had never taken place. Not asyllable to your master, not a word to your fellow servants. Remember, Purvis,” continued Bertram, in a tone of the deepest solemnity, ‘‘ for the present I am under the ban of the law, and I need but hint at what would be my fate if through any indiscretion on your part — “My lord,” interrupted the old man, sobbing violently, ‘““T would not do such a thing. No I could not, even if I did not entertain that wild hope — ’”’ ‘“ Hnough,”’ ejaculated Bertram, and again the steward’s hand was for an instant pressed in his own. The next moment there was the sound of a door cautiously opening and shutting; all was then silent in the chamber. Sleep presently fell upon the steward’s eyes, and when he awoke in the morning, he was at a loss to conjecture whether the main incidents of the past night were a reality, or whether it were all a wild and fanciful dream. ECONNICLOO© Ss (C(O)