The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

104 REYNOLDS’ WORKS already the case, for on reaching the brow of the hill he drove down the ascent on the other side at a rattling pace, already beginning to distance the very inferior animal which was dragging the street cab. The night, however, being very beautiful and clear, Alfred and the cabman had no difhieulty in keeping in sight the equipage which ne were pursuing, and which was now entering the district of Holloway. ‘““We must not lose it, after all this trouble,’’ said Alfred to the cabman. “ Spare not the whip upon that miserable hack of yours. Your reward shall be in proportion to the success that I experience.” The cabman whipped his horse, and it regained some of its lost ground as the neat little equipage in front, crossing the broad road of Holloway, clashed into what was then a beautiful lane with a green hedge on each side, and which bore, as it indeed still bears, the name of the Seven Sisters Road. Ultimately the equipage stopped at a little villa some distance up this road, and standing in a somewhat lonely situation. Alfred made the cabman drive past, so as to create the impression that his destination lay farther on, and he beheld the lady emerge from the brougham and enter the villa. Having caused the cabman to drive on as far as he thought it necessary for the sake of appearances, the valet bade him turn back, and at a late hour, or, rather, an early one in the morning, he reached his master’s lodgings in Jermyn Street. Lord Harold Staunton and Lord Saxondale were sitting up, drinking punch and smoking cigars, in expectation of the valet’s return, and the moment Alfred made his appear- ance in the room, they saw by his countenance that he had been successful. He at once gave the two young noblemen an account of his proceedings, and they applauded the perse- verance and skill which he had exhibited in tracing the fair one to her suburban abode. “But now, my dear Harold,’ said Lord Saxondale, when the valet had retired, “‘ we have not yet settled who is to avail himself of the information just obtained. You say that you are considerably smitten with the signora, and that her brilliant appearance this night has made a much deeper impression on you than it did on the first occasion. On the other hand, I am equally mad in love with her, — no disparagement to Florina, — for you know, of course, CONNIE KS (E(0)