The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 353: what you’re looking at

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

336 THE COURT OF LONDON beauty, but which were now pale and agitated. He also was very pale; indeed, his cheeks were colourless, while the firmness with which his lips were compressed showed that he had some difficulty in mastering his emotions and sternly carrying out that which he believed to be an impera- tive duty. As for Maravelli, he also was deeply agitated, for though relieved of any immediate fear on his own account, he nevertheless trembled at the strangeness of the present proceeding, and there was likewise something awful in the spectacle of that young man with the determined air of an avenging genius confronting those three pale and horror- stricken girls, at such an hour of the night, and under all the circumstances that had occurred. ‘““ Now,” said Loftus, at once resuming the discourse in the same firm voice as before, but likewise with a forced composure over a deep internal agitation, “‘ all that is about to take place must be promptly and rapidly done. Tc speak the truth, | know you all three too well to believe that you can be brought to a sense of the enormity of your crimes unless under extraordinary circumstances. ‘To the influence - of such circumstances am I about to subject you, and here ’’ — pointing to Maravelli — “is the man who, having been to a certain extent implicated in one phase of your proceedings, must perform the part of a witness now. To a chamber of horrors am I about to lead you. Prepare yourselves for a shock. You will behold some ghastly ob- jects, but on one only need your eyes be riveted.”’ “Mr. Loftus!’’ almost shrieked forth Agatha, and she would have fallen had not her sisters supported her, “ you will not, you cannot, you dare not as a man — ”’ “Hush, hush!” was the quick whisper which Emma breathed in Agatha’s ear. ‘‘ You must confess nothing, it will be safer not.”’ ‘“ Well, sir,’ said the eldest sister, regaining her fortitude at this hint, ‘‘ what horrors are these which you have in prep- aration for us?”’ and she threw a ghastly look upon our young hero. ‘“ Not for worlds,’ exclaimed Loftus, ‘‘ would I submit you, wicked and depraved though you are, to this ordeal, if I thought you would confess everything of your own accord. Say then at once, — say then,” he repeated, earnestly and impressively, ‘to whom were this man’s services adminis- 1) EORMIELIOO KES (E() im