The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

THE COTTAGE 107 It was for the very reason of his being thus vain and arrogant, that he entertained such a hope. Conceited to a degree, he had the highest opinion of himself, and would not believe the truth which the mirror told him, that he was very far from good-looking. On the contrary, he flattered himself that he possessed every qualification for becoming a pertect lady-killer, that wherever he chose to smile, hearts must be won, and that it was impossible for any female to resist his powers of fascination. In addition to the high opinion which he entertained relative to himself, he had a very mean one of feminine virtue in general; and we have already seen that in his first conversation with Lord Harold respect- ing Angela, he flippantly ignored the possibility of chastity in connection with any female figuring upon the stage. From his earliest infancy, also, he had been so fawned upon, “my lorded,’’ toadied, and flattered that he really believed there was something talismanic in the name of Saxondale, and that the brilhancy of his rank, the immensity of the fortune which would soon be at his entire disposal, the splendour attached to his long line of ancestry, and his own personal qualifications, would prove altogether overpowering if he had but an opportunity of playing off the whole artillery of these attractions upon the young danseuse. But what plan was he to pursue in order to obtain access to her? He had decided upon not writing to solicit an inter- view, and he reasoned that it would be equally useless to present himself at her suburban villa and send in his ecard, with the hope of being admitted to her presence. He thought that, in the first instance, he had better reconnoitre her abode, and endeavour, if possible, to scrape acquaintance with her lady’s-maid, or any one of her domestics who might furnish him with hints for prosecuting his scheme; he might also ascertain if she walked out at all in the neigh- bourhood during the day, and if she did go out alone for a ramble, he might trust to the chapter of accidents to furnish means for an introduction to her. But then, on the other hand, he reasoned that if a well-dressed, elegant, and aristo- cratic-looking young gentleman (as he flattered himself to be) were seen lounging and loitering about the fair one’s villa, her suspicions would be excited, she would be placed upon her guard, and his projects might be defeated. How, then, was he to proceed? Suddenly an idea struck him. CONNIE DOOKS (FO)