The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

- THE COTTAGE 113 think that so shrewd, penetrating, and cunning a woman as this evidently was might be made a most valuable instru- ment in the furtherance of his design. “ To speak with equal candour, then, I must admit that I do feel a very great interest in the beautiful girl of whom we are talking, and if you will consent to serve me — ”’ “ T have already said that I will,’ interrupted the woman. “Come, now, do not beat about the bush, tell me what you want. I see that you have gold with which you can repay my services, and it’s very sure the young lady at Evergreen Villa will not come and bribe me to act against you.” “Tn the first place,’ rejoined Saxondale, “ you must find out how many servants she keeps, whether she has a maid who, like most of her class, will accept a bribe and enter into my interests.”’ “ That is a point which may be almost reckoned upon with the fullest confidence,’ observed the woman. “‘ But go on. What other inquiries am I to make? ”’ ‘Whether the fair one goes out for a walk by herself at all, and if so, which direction she usually takes, what her habits are, whether she sees any company or lives retired — ’”’ “In fact, you want to know everything about her,” again interrupted the woman, “ and to glean all such cir- cumstances as may suggest the plans that you are to adopt. All this I understand at a glance.”’ ‘Then I am very certain that I could not have alighted upon a more able assistant,’? remarked Saxondale. ‘ But I have not altogether explained myself. The truth is, I wish to throw a little spice of romance into this proceeding, for I have the outline of my plan all cut and dried, but as a matter of course the substance of it must be filled up according as circumstances may suggest.”’ “ Now, then, for the romance part of it? ’’ said the woman interrogatively, and again that transiently contemptuous expression deepened for a moment the lines of her harsh countenance. “‘ Romance is pleasant enough for a fine young gentleman of your age, and perhaps for a sweet young girl such as she is at yon villa, but I question whether my matter-of-fact assistance will not in the long run prove more useful to your aims than all your romance. However, go on )) “ What I require is a sort of disguise,’’ answered Saxondale, GOmilGaooks (C(O)