The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

— eg a ia THE TWO DOORS 191 Then, leading the way, he hastily summoned his house- keeper, Mavolta, to whose care the lady resigned herself, while he conducted Jocelyn up a wide but gloomy staircase, along a passage with an array of chamber doors on either side, and the aspect of which was precisely such as would be ascribed by a romance-writer to a house that was haunted. Opening one of the doors, the doctor showed Jocelyn into s, bedchamber, handsomely furnished, but in a sombre style. The draperies were heavy, two or three large cup- boards of a dark-stained wood filled up the recesses, and there was altogether an absence of that lightness, cheerful- ness, and elegance, which usually combine as the attributes of sleeping-apartments in the city of Geneva. Jocelyn did not, however, loiter to dwell particularly upon the features of the chamber, but hastened to divest himself of his own dripping apparel, and assume the entire change which Doctor Maravelli placed at his disposal. By the time he had thus’ shifted his raiment, the physician returned to conduct him down-stairs to a handsome dining-room, where a table was spread for supper. “And now,” said Doctor Maravelli, “‘ you must inform me how this accident took place.”’ ‘“ You must know,’ answered Jocelyn, “ that after we separated at the village, | was seduced by the loveliness of the evening to ramble again into the environs ere I came on to Geneva. But not noticing how time was slipping away, nor how far I was walking, I presently reached the border of the lake. In a few minutes I heard a heavy plunge, a splash, a gurgling sound —”’ “Ah! I understand,’ said Maravelli. ‘“‘ My fair lodger, who is most romantically fond of twilight walks and moonlit rambles, was roving in that same direction when she fell in, eh? Some parts of the lake are dangerous enough for the incautious stroller during the obscurity. And so you had the good fortune to rescue her? ‘Then you have not as yet _ taken up your quarters at any particular place in Geneva? ”’ “No,” replied Loftus. ‘‘ And now that I bethink me, my prolonged absence from the village inn must excite the strangest suspicions. The landlord will fancy some accident has occurred, or that I have purposely fled.”’ “ I will despatch some one thither with any message you choose to send,’’ said Maravelli. ‘“‘ Of course you will accept CORNICLOOL CS (C(O) im