The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

318 REYNOLDS’ WORKS scaffold. She now cared too little for him to be particularly afflicted at the contemplation of this eventuality; while, on the other hand, if he should really be enabled to maintain himself in the repossession of his estates, she might yet play the part of the feudal baroness, as she had so much longed to do. She was well aware that Spain was in an unsettled condition, — that the authority of the central government at Madrid was but indifferently maintained over the spirited population of Catalonia; and the longer she reflected on the course about to be entered upon, the more did she deem it probable that her husband’s views might be carried out, and that the warnings of her brother-in-law would prove to have been stretched and overstrained. It was a little after ten o'clock in the evening of this same day that the count and Juliana retired to their chamber. But scarcely had they ascended thither when a trampling of horses’ feet and sounds as if of the clatter of weapons, coming from the main road, met their ears. In an instant the count threw open the window. ‘The moonlight flooded the at- mosphere, and the figures of several mounted gendarmes were distinctly visible to himself and Juliana. They had already sprung from their steeds, and it was the din of their steel-sheathed swords clattering against their sides which had reached their ears. A wild but vague terror suddenly seized on Juliana; nor was her alarm dissipated when the count, ab- ruptly closing the window, said, ‘‘ We must fly!” _ “Fly! Wherefore? Whither?’ demanded his wife,'in an agony of apprehension. ‘ What have you done? Why come the officers of justice here? ”’ ‘“ We must fly, Juhana!’’ ejaculated the count. ‘‘ There is not a moment to lose. I will explain everything presently. Fasten on your riding-skirt — quick! quick! Follow me.’’ She obeyed mechanically, and with all the haste of wild and nervous alarm; indeed, she was too much bewildered for deliberate reflection. Her husband filled his pockets with all the coin that remained in the casket. They descended the stairs precipitately, and passed out by a back door to the stable. Two horses were saddled and bridled in almost the twinkling of an eye, Juliana thus caparisoning her own steed for herself, which she well knew how to do; and she had all the ready activity of fortitude at this moment, notwithstand- ing the wild, vague terrors which filled her soul. (E(0) m CONNIE OO KS