The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

152 REYNOLDS’ WORKS look at the same time. ‘“ Let us go into the hall, and hear what the man has to say.” With these words she took the young nobleman’s arm, and as they ascended the entrance-steps together, she breathed, in a hurried and scarcely audible whisper, “ For Heaven’s sake, Edmund, as little emotion as possible! ”’ “ Don’t be afraid,’ was Lord Saxondale’s immediate re- sponse, also quickly whispered; for now that the first access of excitement had gone by, he comprehended that by some means or another his mother was completely in his power, and though he could not at the moment precisely settle his thoughts as to the full meaning of her alarm, he was never- | theless already smitten with some dark and dreadful sus- picion. Adelaide was too keen not to observe something peculiar on the part of her husband and her mother-in-law, especially as she had noticed that rapid exchange of significant glances which had taken place the instant EKdmund’s eyes had en- countered the saturated garment. And then Lucilla’s ob- servation, that it looked like a masquerade costume, had brought, like a hghtning-flash, a recollection to Adelaide’s mind. For she had heard from Edmund’s lips the whole story of the masquerade at the Duke and Duchess of Har- court’s, — how Lady Saxondale had met Lord Harold Staunton there, and how she had incited him to provoke William Deveril to a duel. She had likewise learned how Ed- mund had ransacked his mother’s boxes to discover that dress, and how he had succeeded; but she never knew that it had fallen into the hands of the unfortunate Emily Archer, alias Mademoiselle d’Alembert, for the simple reason that Lord paxondale had thought fit to conceal from his wife the fact that he had possessed such a charming mistress. However, Adelaide saw, as we have already said, that there was some- thing very peculiar in the present affair, but she made no observation, — neither by her looks did she betray what was passing in her mind. Lady Saxondale, leaning upon Edmund’s arm, passed into the hall, Adelaide following close, the peasant, with the dripping garment, and the domestics crowding in the rear. “Yes, assuredly it is a masquerade dress,” said the butler, as the peasant now stretched the costume on the marble pavement. 7 . (E@) m Gomichbooks