The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

242 REYNOLDS’ WORKS or four o’clock; and then, aided by the advice which the marquis will in the meantime have given me, I shall know how to act. You need be under no apprehension during my absence. Whatsoever treachery may be in contemplation is to be reserved for the night-time. That is evident. There- fore fear not, my sweet sister. Not for an instant would I leave you unprotected if I thought there was any danger.” Having embraced Angela, William Deveril issued forth from the villa. As he traversed the little garden in front, the old gardener, who appeared to be busy at work, stopped him with the accustomed touch of the hat, and asked him a question of a trivial nature in connection with some shrub. William was about to hurry past, telling him that he had not time to attend to the matter at that moment, when it struck him that the gardener surveyed him in a somewhat singular manner; and as this was not the first time that the same suspicion had occurred to our hero, he did stop and answered his questions. ‘“T see you are in a hurry now, sir,’ said the man, “ or else I had several other things I wanted to speak to you about in connection with the garden. But as I suppose you won’t be more than an hour or two absent, as usual, | will wait till your return.” “ You had better tell me now what you have to say,” an- swered Deveril, ‘‘ for I have some business which may detain me in town; and when I come home in the afternoon, I must be off at once to Edenbridge. I have received a letter from the Marquis of Eagledean, inviting me to dine with him this evening.”’ While affecting to have his eyes fixed upon the particular shrubs to which the gardener had alluded, William was all , c¢ the time scrutinizing, from beneath his long, dark lashes, | the countenance of the old man, and his original suspicion was confirmed, that this individual was In some way or another connected with the treachery which was being secretly plotted, — that is to say, supposing his surmise to be correct that the letter from Edenbridge was a forgery. He remained conversing with the gardener for a few minutes, and then, pretending to have forgotten something, he re- entered the villa. “My dear Angela,” he said, ‘‘ I feel convinced that there is something wrong about that gardener. I have frequently CONNIE NO KS (E(0)