The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

THE FISHERS OF MEN 227 real one may be, wishes to take a false one, he 1s sure to fix on the commonest and ugliest.”’ “Ah! indeed, is it so?’’ said the clerk, who, lke all Genevese, was fond of a gossip. ‘ Well, sometimes we find out that Englishmen visiting Geneva are travelling with false names, but so long as our attention is not openly and officially directed to the matter, we wink atit. The English, you see, sir, spend a great deal of money at Geneva. Their presence is good for our trade, and we like to encourage them here. They mav therefore take what names they like, so long as they do not violate the laws. At the same time, I must inform you that all particulars we do succeed in glean- ing concerning them we place on record, or else,’ he added, with a sly laugh, “‘ we should not have such a police book as this to refer to when occasion may require. But, ah! here is the Thompson concerning whom you have been inquiring, the last Englishman of that name who has visited Geneva, and you will perceive that there is a pretty long note appended to his name.”’ Our hero looked at the place to which the official pointed and observed that there was indeed a lengthy annotation, consisting of such curt, broken, but very significant sentences as the following: “Came from Italy — had been seen at Milan — supposed to be secretly following the English princess’s retinue — is well provided with money — evidently has no political aim in view — has been recognized by an English traveller as a Colonel Malpas — said not to bear a very high character in his own country — lives secluded and retired here — shuns notice, avoids society, pays his way regularly — goes out at night — lurks about the English princess’s villa — has been seen to scale the wall — was watched on two or three occasions — found to have passed the night within the villa—- orders given not to molest him — no desire to create a scandal—departed suddenly — left no debts unpaid.”’ _ “ And that is all,’”’ said the clerk, when he had read these notes over to our hero. Lottus then requested to be favoured with any private information that the book might afford relative to a Mr. Smith who had also been recently staying at Geneva, and having paid another fee, he was allowed to inspect the fol- lowing record: CORNICLOOL <S (C(O) im