The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

THE FLIGHT 315 some travellers just alighting from a post-chaise which had at the moment stopped at the inn. ‘These travellers were an elderly gentleman and lady, and Juliana, recognizing them at the first glance, ejaculated, ‘‘ Those vile Durands! ” “The Durands? ”’ echoed the Count de Toledo, and at the same moment the eyes of the old gentleman and his wife were turned upon himself and Juliana. Quick as lightning did the count toss the reins to Juliana, bidding her drive on, and springing from the vehicle, he ha- stened up to the Durands, from whose lips burst forth ejacu- lations which to Juliana’s ears sounded as indicative of a most unwelcome recognition. ‘The count said something in a low, hurried tone to the Durands, and they at once ac- companied him into the hotel. Juliana was much amazed at witnessing all these proceedings, as were likewise the stable-men and postilions, who were changing the horses. She drove slowly on, utterly bewildered as to what it could all mean, — her hushband’s precipitate movements, the Durands’ ejaculations, and that sudden entrance of the three into the village hostelry. But as Juliana’s thoughts grew more collected, she concluded that her husband was very probably intent upon inducing the Durands, either by threats or persuasion, to abstain from propagating reports in that neighbourhood which would prove ruinous to her own repu- tation. | She drove slowly on toward the cottage, and in about ten minutes the Count de Toledo rejoined her there. She was about to question him as to what had taken place, and whether the Durands had been completely silenced, when he hurried past her, with a few words to the effect that he would tell her everything presently, and rushed up-stairs to the bedchamber. In a few moments he descended again, and sped away from the cottage. What could this mean? Had he paid a visit to the strong-box? Was some deep inroad now being made upon their funds? Had the Durands de- manded a bribe as the price of their secrecy, notwithstanding that they had just become enriched by the death of their rela-_ tion at Barcelona? Yet in no other way could Juliana account for her husband’s hasty and excited proceedings, and she thought to herself that if their pecuniary resources were thus to be so continuously encroached upon by ex- tortionate demands, they would soon be reduced to the most COMNICLOOOKS. EO