The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

346 THE COURT OF LONDON with a still more solemn look, ‘‘ the last hour has been one of horrors such as I never knew before, such as God grant that I may never know again. Our duty is clear and apparent. So soon as the police courts are open, we must repair to the authorities and relate everything that has occurred.”’ “ Everything? ”’ cried Maravelli, with haggard look. “ Depend upon it,’ rejoined Loftus, ‘‘I will save you from any unpleasant consequences. I have promised you this already, and I will keep my word.” He then put on his hat, muffled himself in a eloak, and issued forth from the physician’s house. Meanwhile the three sisters were hastening back to the villa. Emma, who relied upon the protection of Bergami, but who did not choose to inform her sisters of all that had taken place between herself and him, said everything she could think of to inspire them with an equal amount of courage and assurance. She represented to them that now the ordeal was past, the worst was known, and that all the harm or exposure Loitus intended them was their prompt exile from Geneva. ‘But even this decision may be counteracted,’ added Emma, in a peculiar tone of assurance, which was derived from ts secret reliance she placed in Rese Through the eldest sister’s frame, however, did a uae thrill of horror sweep as she fecalled to mind Mrs. Ranger’s injunction relative to Loftus and Lady Prescott. “ If they are to live, then must you find the opportunity of breathing the word to Maravelli; but if they are to die, then nothing need be said and the doctor will do his work.” Such were the words Mrs. Ranger had whispered to Agatha during their interview of the evening, but the word had not been breathed in Maravelli’s ear, and he therefore would do his work. Ah! if Agatha only knew that Lady Prescott was already no more, that the poison had been used by suicide lips, and that Maravelli no longer dreamed of new crimes, but only thought of shielding the past ones, she would have been spared this fresh paroxysm of horror and dismay which now seized upon her. But, stricken speechless thereby, she gave no audible vent to her feelings, and as she thus walked with her two sisters in silence, they in the obscurity of night observed not the ghastly workings of her countenance. Gomicbooks.com |