The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

A SINGULAR PROPOSAL 69 stood that it was in consequence of some boasting assertion, as unfounded as 1t was impudent, made by the colonel in reference to your ladyship. How true all this might be, I scarcely knew, for I was well aware that Captain Tash entertained a bitter hatred against the colonel and would oladly seek an opportunity to avenge himself.’’ ‘You occasionally see the captain, then?” said Venetia, beginning to suspect that there might be some little intrigue on the part of that gallant officer and the colonel’s wife. “No, my lady,’’ was the answer, delivered with an un- affected sincerity which instantaneously showed Venetia that her suspicion was altogether unfounded. ‘‘I have only met him once for months past, and that was by accident. I was walking with two of my sisters at the time. Perhaps your ladyship has heard that beiore I was married to the colonel, Captain Tash made me an offer, but I am glad now — heartily glad — that I did not accept it. The stories I have heard of his dreadful violence, his outrageous conduct, the constant scrapes he is getting himself into, and his dissipated mode of life are enough to frighten one and would have been the death of me; for I am quite sure that all I have suffered through Malpas has not been half so bad as I should have endured if I had married Captain Tash.’’ “The captain is a good-hearted man,’’ said Venetia, “but has all the bad qualities you mention. However, we have wandered from the topic of our discourse; and now, to resume it, I must observe that you are acquainted with a sufficiency of past events to understand how I had every reason to dislike your husband. Nevertheless, when he obtained his release from gaol some four months ago, I took compassion on him, I employed him in a secret mission to the Continent, and now that he has returned to London — ’’ ‘“He is in London, then, at present?’’ exclaimed Mrs. Malpas. “I heard that he had gone abroad, but knew not of his return.’’ ‘He is only just come back,’ rejoined Venetia, ‘‘ and I regret to say that his disposition is not changed for the better. Availing himself of the knowledge of certain secrets, which I should be sorry to have revealed, — secrets, however, you must understand, of a purely business character, — he has dared to use menaces and threats toward me — ’’ “But for what purpose?” asked Mrs. Malpas, whose CORnnICLOOKS (C(O) am