The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

126 REYNOLDS’ WORKS designing woman,”’ responded Villebelle. ‘‘ Ah, Jules, there are women of this kind in the world, women who insidiously weave their chains of silk and gold around the too suscep- tible heart.’’ “True, there are such women,” exclaimed the viscount, again solicitous to divert the conversation into another channel, for he more than half-suspected that Villebelle was applying these remarks to his case in respect to Augusta. “And are this Lord Saxondale and the marchioness your wife the only children of her ladyship? ”’ “No, there is another, an elder sister,’’ replied Villebelle. ‘“Ts she too married?”’ asked the viscount, merely for the purpose of keeping the conversation away from topics which were disagreeable to himself, although he felt con- vinced that when once Villebelle should have seen his Augusta he would no longer give utterance to covert in- nuendoes relative to artful and designing women. “No, Juliana Farefield —for that is the name of my wife’s sister —1is unmarried,” returned Villebelle. ‘ But, by the bye, have you devised some incognito for me to adopt.” ‘Yes. You are to pass as Monsieur Meurice, and further- more, I have given Augusta,’ continued Jules, “a most excellent character in respect to the liberality of your sen- timents. I have assured her that in you she will find no strait-laced, demure, sanctimonious individual, and there- fore, my dear Villebelle, you will be upon your guard ac- cordingly.” “Fear not, Jules,’ rejoined the marquis, “ that I shall in any way deport myself so as to make you regret having assented to my caprice in presenting me to Mrs. Chesterfield. Whatever opinion I may form, will be in no way shadowed forth until you and I are alone together again.’’ The vehicle rolled onward, and in due course stopped at the gate of the grounds in which that little villa stood. In her sitting-apartment within the walls of that villa, Mrs. Chesterfield was placed in a half-reclining attitude upon the sofa. She had apparelled herself in her handsomest morning dress, and it was one which admirably became the style of her dark beauty. She had taken immense pains with her toilet. She knew that the passion of the viscount would be sustained and enhanced by any encomia which his friend might pass upon her beauty, and she therefore ) CONNIE OO KS (E(0)