The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 342: what you’re looking at

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

THE BANDITTI’S TOWER O20 “ But that false title which you assumed?” ejaculated Juliana, half-frantic. + “T had as much right to usurp the rank of a nobleman, Juliana, as you had to assume the position of a virtuous woman. If I were a false count when I led you to the altar, you were not a virgin-bride when you came into my arms.”’ “ My God! ”’ murmured the unhappy lady, again shivering all over. Then suddenly she cried, ‘' But how was it that my own maid deceived me? How was it that she assured me you were all that you represented yourself, — that you visited at the Spanish Embassy in Paris? ”’ ‘‘ Because your maid was accessible to my gold,’”’ answered Ramon de Collantes. ‘ Do you suppose, Juliana, that I fore- saw not that you would make inquiries? I knew that you were a thorough woman of the world, and I played as deep a game as your own.” “Why did you marry me?”’ demanded Juliana, abruptly. ‘“‘ Because I loved you, truly and sincerely loved you. | love you now, and shall ever love you, unless you give me cause to hate you. I more than half-suspected, when I - wooed you, that something had gone wrong with your ante- cedents. But I cared not for that. It was sufficient that you struck my fancy, and I resolved to possess you as a wife.” ‘And that tale of the change of ministry, when we were travelling southward — ”’ ‘An opportunity which presented itself for devising an excuse not to bear you into Spain, but to stop short on the Pyrenean frontier, whence I myself could pay periodical visits — ”’ “To your intendant? ” said Juliana, with bitter sarcasm. ‘Do not speak thus, or I shall not love you much longer,”’ answered Collantes, haughtily and sternly. ‘‘ Rather thank me for having from time to time reéntered Catalonia to join my brave band for a few days, and levy contributions on travellers who passed by.” “And that man who had been a labourer on your es- tates? ’ said Juliana, still somewhat ironically, though not ~ with so much bitterness as before. ‘A scoundrel who was once a member of my band, but who through very cowardice deserted. For want of a pass- port, he lingered just over the frontier, and my evil destiny (F©) COnNIELOOOKS