The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

THE ROYAL INTRUDER 87 of rank and fashion, —in a word, do everything that may convince you of the depth and the sincerity of his passion. Tell me, then, tell me, is not the love of your prince, the love of him who will one day be your sovereign, better than the society of a worthless, unprincipled fellow like your hus- band? ”’ “Ah! my husband,” ejaculated the lady, in sudden alarm. ‘‘ Does he know that you are here? ”’ “No, Heaven forbid that I should compromise you! ” exclaimed the prince. ‘“ But he will come, then! Every moment he may come! ” sald the lady, in accents convulsed with dread. ‘“ Oh, what am I todo? What am I to do?”’ “Summon your fortitude to your aid,’’ hastily responded ‘the prince, now snatching a thousand little liberties as he caught the terrified lady in his arms and strained her to his breast. ‘‘ Should Malpas indeed come, answer him at the door, tell him you have thought better of it, and that you will not receive him.”’ “But he fancies that it is Lady Sackville whom he is coming here to meet,’ said Mrs. Malpas, not reflecting whether there were any harm in making this statement. “Your Royal Highness must understand,” she continued, hurriedly, ‘‘ that my wicked husband wished to coerce her ladyship, and her ladyship placed me here to receive him in her stead.”’ ‘So I understood from the opening observations which you made when I first entered the room,” said the prince. “ But hush! some one approaches.”’ The prince and Mrs. Malpas now held their breath to listen, and they distinctly heard footsteps pause suddenly just outside the door. Then there was a rustling of a gown, accompanied by a groping about underneath the mat at the threshold, which sounds indicated clearly enough that some one was looking for the key which had ere now been concealed there. These sounds were followed by low whis- pers. The door was tried next, but as it remained immovable a gentle tap was given. Then, in the lowest possible accent, did the prince whisper certain rapid instructions to Mrs. Malpas, and issuing from the couch she felt her way through the darkness to the door, and said, in a low tone, ‘“‘ Who is there? ”’ CORNICLOOL SS (C(O) am