The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

74 REYNOLDS’ WORKS details, to exhibit, and several letters from Mr. Pollard, the lawyer, written at different times and advising her of period- ical remittances. ‘There were likewise memoranda, evidently penned by the deceased lady herself, and indicating various Continental places which she had visited both previous and subsequent to her husband’s death, — the whole affording a tolerably comprehensive clue to her movements since her elopement from the boarding-school. In a word, the several papers discovered in this desk, superadded to the oral expla- nations given by Mrs. Rayner in the railway carriage, served to render Lettice as intimately acquainted as it was possible for her to become, with the affairs of the deceased lady. While Miss Rodney was thus engaged in the perusal of the contents of the desk, an idea gradually began to arise in her mind, — at first vague, indefinite, and impalpable, then ac- quiring shape and consistency, growing stronger, until at last it became an object perfectly fitted for serious and de- liberate contemplation. Lettice sat down and pondered deeply thereon. She surveyed the matter from every distinct point of view, reckoned all the chances of success and the probabilities of failure, at the same time balancing the risk she might incur with the prize she might gain by playing the stroke boldiy. Her mind was made up, and she now no longer considered it expedient to throw any light upon the name of the deceased lady who was represented as unknown in the catalogue of the killed. COMNIELOOOLKS 50)