The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

244 REYNOLDS’ WORKS holm which acquaint me that he is not in that city, —a piece of intelligence which seems to be confirmed by the fact that he has neither written to me nor drawn for any pecu- niary supplies. Yet it is difficult to conceive how he can entertain any perfidious intent with regard to your affairs.’’ ‘Good heavens!” ejaculated Wilham, “ if he were infa- mous enough to harbour the intent of carrying off Angela! He has seen her at the opera: who knows but that he may have conceived a passion for her? ”’ } ‘Or it may be,’ suggested the marquis, ‘‘ that there is something connected with that woman who has for so long a time been harboured at your abode. We know that she has some secret of the deepest importance to reveal, — a secret intimately concerning yourself; but may not this secret likewise regard others, and even threaten to com- promise them? If so, whatsoever hostile designs are in contemplation may be levelled against her. It is, however, useless for us to waste time in conjecture. We must deter- mine how to act.” It is not, however, necessary to record in this place the -nature of the measures which were promptly resolved upon. Suffice it to say that a little past three o’clock in the after- noon William Deveril reached his villa near the Regent’s Park. It was now verging toward the dusk, which sets in early at that season of the year; but the old gardener was still occupied with the shrubs and the plants, which certainly needed not so much care as he seemed intent on lavishing upon them. William was, however, careful, as he passed him by, not to show, by any change of demeanour toward the old man, that he suspected him of treachery; neither did he exhibit the haste and excitement of one who had just come from a journey. He entered the villa, and was speedily closeted with Angela. From her he learned that scarcely had he taken his departure in the morning, when the gardener went away and did not return for an hour, but that ever since he had remained about the premises, to all appearance busily engaged. Deveril then informed his sister of all that had taken place at Edenbridge Park, — how he had re- ceived the confirmation that the letter was a forgery, and how the marquis had suggested certain measures which were to be adopted, not merely for the frustration of whatsoever CONNIE NO KS (E(@) m