The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

THE MEETING 299 Juliana discovered, much to her apprehension and annoy- ance, that they were one of the families whom she was accus- tomed to visit. She now had to give explanations on her own side, and these were to a certain extent humiliating enough. She was obliged to confess that the name of Chesterfield was a feigned one, that the story of a husband in India was altogether an invention, that she had never been married at the time she was at the Durands’ villa, and that she was in reality the daughter of an English peeress named Saxondale. She went on to inform the Durands that she was now married to the Count de Toledo, a Spanish nobleman who for political reasons was unable to enter Spain; and that for some time past they had resided in the neighbourhood of that village. She begged and implored Monsieur and Madame Durand to save her reputation; and as we have before stated that this worthy couple were by no means overnice in their notions of female morality, they readily promised to follow her in- junctions. She lavished upon them all possible proofs of gratitude and friendship, and insisted that they should dine with her; but they had just partaken of luncheon at the hotel, and they were in haste to continue their journey. Indeed, their post-chaise was now in readiness, and they took their leave of the Countess de Toledo, to pursue their way, their purpose being to enter Spain by way of Perpignan at the eastern extremity of the Pyrenees. Juliana was much relieved when she saw them take their departure, but she now more than ever longed to quit France altogether, and fix her abode on her husband’s domain; for she calculated that in the depths of Catalonia there was far less chance of incurring such disagreeable encounters as this one than on the northern side of the Pyrenees. She therefore looked anxiously forward for the count’s return, not merely that she might have the fullest explanations with him on the various points which troubled her, but likewise because he had given her to understand he expected some favourable intelligence with regard to his own political position, on the occasion of this visit into Spain. Ten days more passed. The count had been absent above a fort- night, and his prolonged absence rendered Juliana more and more uneasy and restless. But now another incident occurred which requires special mention. CONNIE OOOKS (EO)