The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 347: what you’re looking at

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

330 REYNOLDS’ WORKS warn you against any attempt at escape. It is painful for. me thus to speak, but methinks it is necessary.” Don Ramon de Collantes thereupon quitted the room, leaving Juliana a prey to reflections which may be more easily imagined than described. On descending to the ground floor of the tower, the bandit-captain found that half a dozen of his men had just brought in, as prisoners, an English gentleman and his valet, — certain circumstances having led the outlaws to believe that a goodly ransom might be obtained for the hberation of the captives in this instance. It appeared that the gentleman and his valet were travelling post toward Madrid, having entered Spain by way of Figueras, that the detachment of banditti stopped the equipage, and that, after desperate but ineffectual attempts at resistance, the traveller and his domestic were overpowered. There was no considerable sum of ready money found upon the gentleman’s person, no more than he might have deemed sufficient for his expenses to the Spanish capital; but, on the other hand, he had in his pocketbook letters of credit on a banker in that city for a very large amount. It was this fact which —in pursuance of their usual policy in such cases — had induced the banditti to bring the traveller and his valet as captives to the tower. The post-chaise had been left to return to Figueras, the ban- ditti, however, allowing the gentleman to pay the postilions their due, —a course which they invariably adopted, and which led to the very natural supposition that there might be some little private understanding between the outlaws and the drivers in those districts. The gentleman was about six or seven and twenty years of age, tall, well made, and handsome, with a frank, ingenuous expression of countenance. Hus hair was of a rich brown, curling naturally; his eyes were blue; his features were somewhat delicate, and classically modelled. Altogether, his appearance was most agreeable; his voice was rich and harmonious, and his manners were polished and elegant. But now he wore a haughty and indignant look. He be- trayed not the slightest sentiment of fear; indeed, his courage had been well proven in his resistance to the banditti, and it was fortunate for him that in being overpowered at last he had sustained no hurt more serious than a few bruises. , His valet, also an Hinglishman, was a middle-aged, sedate- CONNIE DOO KS (E(0)