The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

296 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“‘Tranquillize yourselves, girls, tranquillize yourselves,” she said in an encouraging tone. ‘‘ The evil is tremendous, but the danger may be surmounted.”’ The young ladies were somewhat soothed by her words, but still the anodyne thus conveyed was incommensurate with the frightful lacerations which poignant terror had inflicted upon their souls. Despite, too, the somewhat sanguine manner in which Mrs. Ranger had just announced that there was a loophole of escape from their embarrass- ments, they were now compelled to pass through another fearful phase of excitement when the old hag circumstan- tially narrated to them all that had taken place between herself and Maravelli. Heavens! how did the hearts of the three sisters sink within them, and what terrible feelings took possession of their souls, as they heard how Jocelyn Loftus was pursuing the track of his investigations, how he had extorted all the physician’s secrets, how he was ac- quainted with all the adventures of the memorable night at the villa, and how he had the very corpse of the child fished up from the depth of the lake. At one moment so sudden a faintness seized upon Agatha — for Mrs. Ranger was not overnice or delicate in giving the particulars of the narrative as she had heard it from Maravelli— that had not strong restoratives been applied she. would have fallen into a swoon. By means of a powerful cordial, however, she was inspired with that artificial energy which is only enjoyed to the prej- udice of health’s natural vigour, in the same way that opium and alcohol prey upon the constitution which they either lull into dreamy bliss or raise into ecstasy. “Now, my dear girls, you know the worst,” said Mrs. Ranger, ‘‘ and it is time I should tell you the best. I way- laid Bergami as he returned from Maravelli’s house. He of course knows all, but it is quite clear that neither he nor Loftus proposes to have recourse to harsh measures imme- diately. Their aim is intelligible enough; they mean to get together all the information they can and clear up every point which is at all mysterious or perplexing, before they make the grand exposure. Now, then, we have breathing time; we have the rest of this day before us, and all to-night.” ‘Good heavens! then to-morrow the exposure may come? ” exclaimed the sisters, clasping their hands in despair. ‘“Oh, let us fly, let us fly! ” CORMICLexe) | Sy C(O) =) m |