The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 341: what you’re looking at

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

324 REYNOLDS’ WORKS across his breast; he looked lke one who was resolute to meet whatsoever upbraidings might be levelled against him, and to glory in the fact that he was the famous robber- chief Ramon de Collantes. | He now made a sign for the two women to leave the chamber, and when they had departed he took a chair and sat down hy the side of the couch. Juhana shuddered visibly at his approach. For an instant a look of sternest ispleasure appeared upon his countenance, but as it quickly passed away, he said, in a lofty tone, as if he chose to rise high above all reproach and upbraiding which might be vented against him, “ Now, Juliana, at length you are in the home to which you have so much longed to come.”’ “This my home?’’ she exclaimed, with another visible tremor, as her eyes swept around the dreary, desolate apart- ment. ‘* No, no, I will not remain here. Let me go hence. I will depart alone,’’ and she sprang up from the couch. ‘“ Not so, Juliana,” said her husband, catching her by the wrist, and compelling her to sit down by the side of the couch, though in justice 1t must be observed that he used no more force than was absolutely necessary. ‘‘ You are my wife, and here you must remain.”’ ‘“ Remain here? ’’ she ejaculated, and for an instant she was about to give vent to a violent gust of mingled rage and erief; but the demeanour of Ramon de Collantes overawed the one and compelled her to stifle the other. ‘ Tell me,”’ she said, suddenly growing calm, — but it was the unnatural calmness of utter despair, — “‘ have you brought me hither to dwell amongst brigands? ”’ “For the last nine months you have been the wife of a brigand chief,’ answered Collantes, “‘ and you must accept your destiny.” “Yes, but I knew it not. God knows how far, how very far I was from suspecting it.”’ “To be sure,” ejaculated her husband, “ how could it have been otherwise? We each had our secrets, and we kept them as long as we could. You had been the paramour of other men when you were wooed by me; _ I was a bandit captain when I wooed you. I have promised to reproach you not; in common justice should you abstain from upbraiding me. CONNIE OO KS (E(0)