The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

24 THE COURT OF LONDON of impunity at Lausanne for this forcible abduction which we initiated at Geneva.”’ ‘““T am well aware of all that you are saying,” observed Malpas. “‘ But for the credit of the girls themselves, we might as well have passed them off as our wives, whom we could represent as preferring the luxury of a chaise to our mode of travelling on horseback.” “And when the chaise does arrive,” remarked Curzon, ‘the waiter would think that we entrusted our wives to three of the most hangdog-looking scoundrels that ever lived. But, upon my word, you seem to have a mighty great consideration all of a sudden for the fair fame of your Emma. Come, tell me candidly, did you ever care half so much for your own wife? ”’ ‘J do not pretend to care very particularly for Emma Owen,’ replied Malpas, “‘ and as for my wife, I never cared much for her.”’ ‘“ Perhaps you have cared more for some other man’s wife?” said Curzon, suddenly surveying the colonel in so strange a manner that he turned ghastly pale, trembled visibly, and, dropping his knife and fork, sat gazing on the earl with a half-stolid, half-frightened air. ‘““T — I — don’t — that is, I can’t exactly understand you,” were the words he stammered forth in broken accents. “ What do you mean, Curzon? ”’ ‘“T mean just this, Malpas,” said the earl, now adopting a resolute aspect and decisive tone, “ that inasmuch as we shall most probably part in a few hours, you to Journey in one direction along with your Emma, and I to take another in company with my Julia, we may as well have a word or two of mutual explanation.”’ ‘“ But I do not understand you,”’ said Malpas, plucking up as much courage as he could possibly summon to his aid. ‘“ Well, but you must suspect what I mean,” exclaimed Curzon. Then, as he deliberately produced a brace oi pistols from his pocket, he said, ‘‘ These weapons, with which you urged me to provide myself as a means of protection during our journey, shall send a couple of bullets into your brain unless you answer me truly and faithfully in respect to certain matters wherein you can clear up the small amount of mystery that remains unsolved and unread by me.” ) EGOMiGcdooks (E(0) m