The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

202 REYNOLDS’ WORKS her ladyship, sternly, though in her heart' rejoicing with a fiendish satisfaction at these violent gusts of passion, which showed how effectually she had instilled the poison of jealousy and infused the influence of terror into his soul. ‘What would you say to a magistrate? It would be a mere vague and unsupported accusation. I could not stand forward as a witness— Alas! now you perceive the con- sequences of having done your best to place me in that woman’s power. But is it possible, Edmund, you have been all along so infatuated as never to entertain the slightest misgiving as to her intentions toward you?” ‘‘ Misgiving? ”’ echoed Edmund, “ I have seldom been free from it. JI have been haunted by vague terrors; my fears have followed me in my dreams. I have fancied that I was encircled in the coils of a monstrous serpent — ”’ ‘And as you live,” cried Lady Saxondale, “‘ it is a serpent in whose power you have placed yourself. Know you not that the most venomous of snakes have the fairest and loveli- est of skins? Oh, my poor boy,” she added, pretending to be affected unto tears, and to be seized with a sudden revival of love toward one whom she in reality hated with the most cordial detestation, “‘ you must be guided by my counsel. It is for me to save you.” “Speak, mother, speak! ”’ exclaimed Edmund, completely beguiled by the tone, the look, and the manner she had assumed. ‘“ You see the position in which you are placed,’’ continued her ladyship. ‘‘ Adelaide menaces your life; if she should fail, St. Gerard will take it. They have vowed between them that you shall perish by poison, or fall beneath the assassin’s knife. Adelaide, who murdered one husband, is familiar with crime and all its means and resources, and will not scruple to attempt the life of a second husband. But if she fail, her paramour is ready to take up the enterprise; and he who so well knew how and where to find a ready agent to deliver you from the madhouse will know how and where to find the same or another to have you waylaid and assas- sinated.’’ ‘Mother, speak, what am I to do?’”’ asked Edmund, in a deep, hollow voice. ‘What are you to do? Are you a man, and do you not in the first place pant for revenge against the woman who CONNIE OO KS (E(0)