The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

THE DISSECTING - ROOM 300 “Yes, give me the key, I repeat,” rejoined our hero, sternly. ‘‘ I have visitors coming here to-night.” ‘““ Visitors? ’’ echoed Maravelli, struck with a mortal terror, for he fancied that these visitors would prove to be the officers of justice coming to arrest him. ‘‘ Ah! they are not such visitors as you fear,’’ said Loftus, at once penetrating his alarms. ‘ Have I not promised that you shall be held scatheless if you do my bidding? ”’ “Yes, yes, you promised me,’ murmured the doctor, trembling from head to foot, ‘‘ but — ’’ ; At this moment there was another ring at the front door bell. ‘There! these are my visitors,” said Loftus, impatiently. “Give me the key. I swear to you they are not officers of justice, they are only the three Owens.”’ ‘Oh, in that case take the key,’ said Maravelli, now breathing more freely. ‘And you must remain with me, doctor,” hastily rejoined Loftus, “ as a witness of what is about to take place.” Our hero now hastened to open the front door, and at once save admittance to Agatha, Emma, and Julia. They were all three enveloped in cloaks and closely veiled, being thus disguised to escape recognition during their nocturnal expedi- tion from the villa to the physician’s house, and (as they hoped) speedily back again. , The moment they entered the hall, Jocelyn closed the front door, and said, ‘‘ Be pleased to follow me.” He then took up the candle which Maravelli had left standing upon a table in the hall, and at once led the way to the dining-room, keeping the physician close by him. Be it remembered that the apartment which they had now entered was not the gloomy-looking little parlour previously alluded to, and on the table of which Maravelli had left the bottle of poison. On entering the dining-room, Loftus closed the door, and turning toward the ladies, he said, ‘‘ Have the kindness to raise your veils, that I may be assured that ye are really those whom I expect.’’ With this command, delivered in the firm tone of decision, the three sisters at once complied, and then Loftus beheld those three countenances which were so familiar to him, those countenances on which nature had lavished so much CORnICLOo! “S) (C(O) im