The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

{94 THE COURT OF LONDON this message which you desire to be sent to the village me: 77 ‘Tf it be understood that I am to take up my quarters at your house,’’ answered Jocelyn, “‘ let my baggage be fetched from the inn, the bill paid, and the post-chaise dismissed back to Chambery, where I hired it.”’ Thus speaking, Jocelyn produced money from his purse to defray the items alluded to, and Mavolta was at once charged with the duty of despatching a messenger to the village inn. : The physician, Mrs. Roberts, and Jocelyn now sat down to supper, and during the meal the conversation turned upon a variety of indifferent topics. The lady, though evidently oppressed by a profound sense of affliction, and also suffering from the exhausting influences of her two immersions in the water and all the excitement which had accompanied those attempts at self-destruction, nevertheless proved an agreea- ble companion. She strove to be cheerful, and as her con- versational powers were by no means limited, she could not make such an effort without succeeding to a certain extent. As for Maravelli, he gave tree scope to that garrulous pro- pensity which he really possessed when apart from the considerations of business; and thus, altogether, Jocelyn spent by no means an unpleasant evening. But still he was under the influence of no ordinary senti- ment of curiosity. Who was this Madame or Mrs. Roberts, avowedly living under a feigned name at the house of the Genevese physician? His wife she assuredly was not, because Uf so, why should the fact be concealed? And his mistress she did not seem to be, inasmuch as he treated her with the utmost deference and respect instead of with familiarity. Indeed, her own deportment was such as to convince Jocelyn that she was really what was represented, namely, a lodger in Doctor Maravell’s house and a boarder at his table. But was it not a singular dwelling for a lady to choose? Whether married or a widow, there seemed something imprudent or suspicious in her fixing her residence beneath such a roof. And that she was a lady by birth, education, and social position, was beyond all doubt. That she had moved in the very best circles, too, was also apparent, for in the course of conversation she let slip a few allusions to personages of the highest rank in England, and with GOMiGcbooks (E(0) im