The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAST PLOT 197 most fiendlike which had ever yet entered the mind of this desperate and unscrupulous woman. Ii there be degrees in guilt, if there be shades and hues, some deeper and darker than others, in the sphere of criminality, then assuredly had Lady Saxondale prepared to stain her soul with the blackest and the deadliest of all. After having spoken at the breakfast-table in the manner already described, she wandered about from room to room, collecting such of her trinkets as she fancied to take with her, or might seem to fancy for such a purpose, and, in short, she appeared occupied with her preparations for departure. But all the while she was watching for an opportunity to speak to Edmund alone; and this opportunity was some- what difficult to be obtained, inasmuch as Adelaide kept almost incessantly with her husband. SBut just before luncheon-time, Adelaide ascended to her chamber to make some little change in her toilet, and Lady Saxondale, antici- pating this movement, watched her from her own room as she passed along the passage. She then glided to the apart- ment where she hoped to encounter Edmund; nor was she disappointed, for she found him there alone. ‘Edmund, dearest Edmund,” she hastily said, adopting a tone and manner of affectionate kindness, ‘it 1s abso- lutely necessary I should have halt an hour’s conversation with you. You know not the importance of the matter on ‘which I thus seek to enlighten you — yes, terribly enlighten you. You are in danger, you stand upon a precipice, and I alone can save you.”’ When Lady Saxondale first began speaking with that air of seeming kindness, Edmund gave one of his insolently supercilious smiles, and was about to tell her “ not to bother him;’’ but the concluding words that thus met his ears, and the awfully impressive tone and look of warning which accompanied them, struck terror to his heart. “ What do you mean, mother?’ he said. ‘“‘ Pray don’t keep me in suspense.” “T cannot tell you now. Adelaide will return in a few minutes; she must not see us speaking together.” “Then is it about her?’ demanded Edmund, nervously. “Do not question me now. I will tell you all presently; you shall then judge whether what I have to say is important or not. But I charge you not to breathe a syllable to your CONnNIEDOOKS (EO)