The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

THE HEAD CONSTABLE 187 well guarded to have the slightest chance of effecting his escape. It was, however, some time before the servants separated, the incidents of the evening and the presence of a murderer beneath those walls being sufficient to excite them, and afford ample scope for their garrulous comments. Lucilla was particularly questioned as to whether she was certain that Chiffin’s voice was the same she had heard on the memorable night when her repose was intruded upon, and as she confidently persisted in an affirmative response, the wonder of the domestics was more than ever excited at the circumstance that Lord Harold Staunton could have connected himself with such a dreadful character. But that Lady Saxondale had any previous knowledge of Chiffin was not for a moment suspected. Throughout the scene in the chapel she had maintained an admirable show of external composure, and the significant glances she had flung upon Chiffn had passed entirely unperceived by all save him to whom they were directed. On quitting the chapel, her ladyship did not join Edmund and Adelaide in the drawing-room. She did not choose to converse with them on this new incident which had occurred, but at once sought her own chamber, and having dispensed with Lucilla’s attendance, sat down to reflect upon the best course which was now to be adopted. The reader will full well understand that Lady Saxondale _ had purposed to employ the Cannibal as an agent for ridding her of the one great obstacle that was now in her pathway: namely, Adelaide. That she could still succeed in making Chiffin’s services thus horribly and terribly available, she did not imagine, but having once brought herself to look the idea of this new crime fixedly in the face, she resolved that it should be perpetrated by some means or another. Therefore she did not renounce her intention of making one more desperate effort to consolidate her own power, and pur- sue the career from which for a moment the incident of the masquerading dress had threatened to divert her altogether. If she had suddenly purposed to fly from England, now that Chiffn was taken captive, she would have abandoned him to his fate, desperately reckless of whatsoever he might choose to say of her; but as she had made up her mind to remain, and prosecute her schemes to the end, it was absolutely necessary to bear a friendly part toward that man, and aid CONNIE DOOKS (EO)