The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRIME DEBATED 269 to her purpose, more easily, perhaps, than even her own representations. “There, now proceed,’’ said the doctor, setting down the tumbler which he had emptied a second time. ‘“ I am prepared for something dreadful. Your look, your manner, your tone of voice, already seem to shadow forth some idea of a terrific nature.”’ “You are aware, doctor,’ said Mrs. Ranger, “ that dangers do menace us, you knew it even before you received my note, and it was my note that worked you up to a pitch of feverish excitement? Come, confess the truth, was it not so?’’ and she looked him hard in the face, as much as to say that 1t were useless to give a denial. ‘Yes, you speak truly, too truly,’’ returned the doctor, hesitatingly. ‘But you have betrayed the trust reposed in you? ’’ she said, still gazing upon him with an intentness and fixity that seemed resolved not to allow the slightest change oi feature on his part to escape her notice. ‘What do you mean? Betray you?” he asked, stam- mering and blushing like a guilty man. “In one word, doctor,’ said Mrs. Ranger, sternly, and still with that fascinating look fixed upon him, — but fascinating only as the reptile concentrates all the magnetic influence of its cold, gleaming eyes upon the victim it 1s about to dart upon, — “‘ in one word, you have betrayed all you know to a young Englishman who is living with you, named Jocelyn Loftus? ” “It 1s useless, utterly useless, nay, even worse than use- less,’’ said the doctor, “ to deny anything. I will make up my mind to tell you all. Besides, I see that you have some project in view — ”’ “ Remember, doctor, that every minute is precious,” interrupted Mrs. Ranger, in a warning voice. ‘‘ Whatever you have done I will not reproach you for. ’Tis past, and cannot be undone. But it can be amended or counteracted, and in this must you help me. Now proceed, and tell me frankly and candidly all you have said to this Jocelyn Loftus.” Doctor Maravelli thereupon commenced the required ex- planations. He stated how an English lady, bearing the fictitious name of Roberts, was living at his house, and how, CORNICLOOL <S) (CO)