The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 230: what you’re looking at

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

THE DOCTOR’S SECRET 213 you?’ asked Maravelli, inwardly chuckling at the preface with which our hero had introduced his business, and which seemed to promise large gains for the unprincipled physician. : “In your capacity, doctor,’’ resumed Loftus, who saw in the twinkling of Maravelli’s eye the lurking devil which personifies the love of gold in the heart of man, ‘‘ you must frequently be called upon to exercise your professional skill under circumstances of great secrecy, and no doubt in proportion to the importance of the secret is the fee placed in your hands? ”’ “| believe that all professional men are occasionally placed in such circumstances,’’ remarked the doctor, with a mysterious look. ‘But you especially, within‘the walls of Geneva,” said Jocelyn, “‘ considering that you have this spacious establish- ment fitted up expressly for the accommodation of ladies who seek temporary retirement. The circumstance be- speaks you to be a man in whom confidence is placed, and therefore if ever there be a secret which can be hushed up at home, without the frail one being compelled to seclude herself for awhile within these walls, you doubtless, of all the medical men in Geneva, are the one to be confided in under such circumstances? ”’ — “You seem to understand my repute and my business well,’ said Maravelh, with a smile of still deeper meaning than before. ‘“‘ Now, there is something uppermost in your _ mind, to which all this is but a mere preface. Speak candidly at once. I think that we shall soon understand each other.’’ ‘‘'Then, in plain terms,” said Jocelyn, “if you will tell me what is the best-paid secret which has recently been entrusted to you, I will give you double or treble the amount for the revelation.” | ‘Gently,’ said the doctor. ‘‘ Again I may observe that I think we shall understand each other, but for me to reveal to you any secret at random will not do. -I have several secrets, secrets regarding the happiness and deeply com- promising the honour of divers noble families, Genevese, German, French, Italian, English, all which secrets are now locked up in my breast, and the very one which I may con- ~*~ sider most important might not be that which has the same value in your eyes. JBesides, you are not asking through CORNICLOO SS (CO)