The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

132 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a new loaf, and some bottled porter, arranged upon the board. Everything looked perfectly clean, notwithstanding » the sordid appearance of the place itself and the untidy aspect of the woman. The walk had given the young noble- man an appetite, the romantic adventure, as he considered it, had put him into good spirits, and so he sat down and did justice to the fare. Another tumbler of brandy and water exhilarated his spirits still more, and when he had thus concluded his repast, he felt every inclination to retire to rest, so that he might rise early in the morning and prepare for the “ love-campaign,’’ as he called it. ‘IT do not know,’ said the woman, as she lighted another candle ere conducting him to the chamber up-stairs, ‘“ whether it is an oversight on your part, or whether you have purposely forborne from telling me who you are. If you desire to keep your name secret, of course I do not wish to know; it cannot be any business of mine. But if otherwise, and you have no reason for hiding your name, you may as well tell it to me.”’ ‘“T have not the slightest objection,’ answered the young nobleman, “‘ because I have every reason to believe that you are as discreet as you are astute. I am Lord Saxon- dale.’’ “TI felt convinced you were a young gentleman of rank,” said the woman, “ and I told the lady’s-maid so last night. And now excuse me for hinting that it will be as well to give the complaisant abigail a bribe as early as possible, and iu you like, I can manage to see her the very first thing in the morning, before she accompanies her mistress in her walk.” “ Oh, to be sure,’’ exclaimed Saxondale. “ By all means put the lady’s-maid in a good humour,” and as he thus spoke he drew forth his purse, which had a quantity of gold in one end and several bank-notes in the other. “ Here, give her this note,” he continued, selecting one for ten pounds. “ But, no, gold is better. The fair sex always prefer gold. So you shall present her with these ten sovereigns as an earnest of still more liberal rewards,’’ and he tossed the money down upon the table. ‘The maid shall have this before eight o’clock to-morrow morning,’’ said the woman. | “T see that vou will not let the grass grow under your feet,’’ observed Saxondale, with a smile. ‘‘ And now for COMIC OOO KS (E(0) m