The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

COUNT AND COUNTESS OF TOLEDO 291 the individual thither, desired that he should be shown into the room where she was seated; but the moment he made his appearance, she at once recognized him as that same wretched-looking object who had been relieved a month back. He was not, however, now clad in the same ragged style, but was very decently apparelled in a suit of broad- cloth, which but ill became his uncouth and ungainly form. He had a dissipated look, and his aspect altogether was little prepossessing. He addressed the countess in his native Spanish tongue, of which she understood too little to com- prehend him. She accordingly desired that her husband’s valet, who was a Spaniard, should be sent for, and the moment the domestic entered the room, a mutual recognition took place between him and the visitor. This was of course natural enough, inasmuch as the latter had been represented as a labourer on the count’s estate, and therefore could scarcely fail of being known to the valet, who had been for some years in his lordship’s service. ‘The valet drew the man away from the room, and leading him into the garden, conversed with him there for a considerable time, at the expiration of which he took his departure. Returning to the parlour, the valet informed the countess that the poor man, relying on his lordship’s generosity, had called to solicit some further assistance, which he (the valet) had given to the extent of his means. A fortnight elapsed from the date of the count’s departure on this third visit to his estates, and he then reappeared at the cottage; but his left arm was in a sling, he looked pale, ill, and haggard. Juliana was at first much terrified on his account, but he hastened to assure her that, though he had sustained a somewhat serious injury, there was nothing to be profoundly alarmed at. A surgeon was at once sent for, and he substituted proper appliances for the clumsy bandages which had in the first instance been tied over the wound. Meantime the countess had gathered from her husband’s lips that he had been attacked by banditti on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, that he had defended himself success- fully against them, until some shepherds, who were guarding their flocks, happened to come to his assistance, when the ruffans retreated precipitately. He had, however, sustained that injury in the arm, but he treated it lightly, inasmuch as he had frustrated the object. of the predatory horde, and (COMIC OOOLKS (f@)