The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 29: what you’re looking at

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— 12 THE COURT OF LONDON where we thus encounter them, and if one heard the foot- steps of the other, he would of course try to get out of his way. Thus when two men, though in reality well acquainted with each other, — as we know that the earl and the colonel were in London, — have each a distinct, separate, and special reason for preserving an incognito at some place afar from home, I believe that they may succeed in doing so for months, and even years, to such an extent that the one shall not even have an idea of the presence of the other in the same city.”’ ‘I can assure you, Emma,” said Julia, “ that my lover is most heartily tired of preserving this incognito.” | ‘And mine also,” responded Emma. “ But as I have before told you, there are other good-looking and amorously disposed young men in the world, and amongst the foreign noblemen and gentlemen who visit at the villa I have seen more than one who would compensate me for the loss of Malpas. Let our two present lovers go, then, and the sooner the better, if their infatuation becomes a positive persecution toward ourselves. ‘They have answered our purpose in a double sense. They have suited us as gallants in a pretty little intrigue, and they have aided us in ful- filling the behest of our friends in England. We have made them our dupes, our agents, and our instruments in the ramifications of conspiracy, aS well as our paramours in the transports of love. From the very first moment that Malpas began to demonstrate peculiar and unmistakable attentions to me at Milan did I perceive how it would be possible to render him useful in the grand designs which we were appointed to carry out. You also, on your side, Julia, foresaw the same result with regard to Curzon, and within the last few days our foreknowledge in those respects has been amply justified. Truly Mrs. Ranger is a very, very clever woman, for to her is due all the credit of the idea involving the princess’s ermine cloak and green silk hood.” “Yes, and to her also,”’ added Julia, ‘‘ may be attributed the idea of putting Mrs. Hubbard on the watch.” “Twas excellent,” exclaimed Emma, laughing merrily. “ But what shall we say of that other idea for which we are indebted to the splendid invention of Mrs. Ranger?” she asked, significantly. ECORNIClIOO KS (E(0) m