The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

COUNT AND COUNTESS OF TOLEDO — 283 child, and of her removal to Paris again. Lady Saxondale liked her daughter too little to be very pressing in her letters that she should return to England. On the contrary, she wrote her approval of Juliana’s resolve to remain abroad, and was by no means niggard in remitting funds as often as they were asked for. It was in Paris, on her return thither after her confine- ment, that Juliana fell in with the Count de Toledo, who was living in grand style at one of the most fashionable hotels. At first she considered him somewhat repulsive in his looks and uncouth in his manners, and no wonder, when she contrasted him with the delicate beauty of Francis Paton and the exquisite gentility of the Viscount de Chateauneuf. But as their acquaintance improved, the first feelings of aversion rapidly wore off. The fine eyes and splendid teeth of the Count de Toledo were no inconsiderable saving clauses in his favour; he was good-humoured and entertaining, liberal and frank-hearted, and Juliana saw that the conquest would be a much more easy one than that of a nobleman or gentleman of a greater drawing-room refinement. Besides, the count in due course began to pay his addresses with an evidently honourable intention, and a marriage with a Spanish nobleman who seemed possessed of ample wealth was a chance by no means to be discarded by a young lady in so false a position as Juliana Farefield. When she perceived that the Count de Toledo was serious in his intentions toward her, she prudently instituted in- quiries concerning him. She had in her service a French maid of exceeding shrewdness and quick intelligence, and through her she ascertained that the count was really, as he had often informed her, a frequent visitor at the house of the Spanish ambassador in Paris. This was sufficient to guaran- tee his respectability, while his mode of life evidently indi- cated the possession of ample means. On her side, Juliana took good care to let the Spanish nobleman become aware that she was the daughter of Lady Saxondale, and the sister of the bearer of the same proud title. She devised a story of ill health in England, and the advice of physicians, as the cause for her residing abroad; and she did not forget to mention that her younger sister was married to the Marquis of Villebelle, a Frenchman of high standing and at that time minister plenipotentiary at the court of Naples. CONnNIEDOOKS (C(O)