The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRISONER iN THE CHAIR 151 I shall be happy to shave your Royal Highness any day for nothing.”’ ‘And such is your hope,’ said the prince, in a musing tone; “‘and you expect it will be gratified on Monday week. Now, can you keep a secret? And do you want to earn a couple of hundred guineas? ”’ “ Yes, to both questions,” replied the Hangman, joyfully. ‘“ Hrnestina,” said the prince, “ retire into that room, and close the door. I would rather speak to this man alone. It must only be painful to your feelings,’ he added, in a whisper, as he conducted the lady into the luxuriously furnished apartment, which has already been described as forming the first of the suite. Ernestina accordingly remained in this room while the prince concluded his discourse with Daniel Coffin. What further passed between them we need not now relate; suffice 1t to say that, having been closeted alone with the Hangman for upwards of ten minutes, his Royal Highness returned to the lady in the apartment to which he had conducted her. ‘Well, my angel, it is all right,’ he said, in a low, mysterious tone, as he closed the door behind him. ‘‘ The fellow has entered into my views, and I am glad that the © thought struck me.”’ | ‘But where is he? Have you released him from the chair? Js he gone?’’ demanded Ernestina, trembling. with the excitement into which the prolonged train of incidents had thrown her. ‘The rascal could not very well leave the house in broad daylight,” said the prince, ‘‘ to be stopped by your servants as a prowling robber, or to be snapped up by some constable or informer in the streets. No, he must remain here until dusk. I have liberated him from the chair, and he is busy devouring a quantity of biscuits, with which his pocket is crammed. But you look pale, ill —” “JT shall be better presently, my dearest George,” an- swered Ernestina, with a fond look. ‘‘ But let us leave these apartments, and return to the drawing-room. We have already been too long away, and if any of the servants should have entered during our absence, what must they have thought? ” “That I know how to appreciate the beauties of an CONNICOOO Ss (S(O)