The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

FURTHER UNRAVELMENT 313 nobleman, who, as well as Hawkshaw, was astonished and affrighted by the physician’s looks. “VYes—I am ill—I—I feel—very ill,” gasped Verney, scarcely knowing what he said, and actually experiencing the most sickening sensations. “Tl, my kind benefactor, my best of friends! ’’ exclaimed an old man, who We poeded to come up to the spot at the moment, after having been for his usual little walk; and just as he was about to ascend the front door-steps, he caught those words which fell from Doctor Ferney’s lips. “Let me support you.” “Never mind, Thompson —I am better now,”’ said the physician, suddenly rallying and regaining his self-possession. “Thompson? ’’ ejaculated the Marquis of LHagledean, who, though the name was a common one enough, never heard it mentioned without thinking of the individual who, if he were found, could doubtless throw so much hight upon William Deveril’s early history. ‘‘ Did you say this gentle- man’s name was Mr. ‘Thompson? ”’ ‘Yes, my lord,” answered Ferney, astonished at the question, as was also Thompson himself, and even Hawk- shaw too; for it certainly seemed a very strange one, the motive for putting it not being apparent. ‘IT am sure you will pardon me, Mr. Thompson,”’ said the marquis, “for the seeming discourtesy of my behaviour, but I have vowed that whenever I meet any one bearing your name, and being of a certain age, I would not fail to put a particular query. I have no doubt that I shall receive from you the same answer I have already had from a dozen other Mr. Thompsons to whom I have addressed myself on the subject. But nev2rtheless I shall take this liberty with you.” “ This is the Marquis of Eagledean, and that is his friend, Mr. Hawkshaw,” said Ferney to Thompson, who accordingly bowed in acknowledgment of the introductions. “ Your lordship can take no liberty,” said Thompson, “and therefore whatsoever question you may nae to put to me shall be readily answered. 4 “It is a simple one,” rejoined the marquis, oats attach- ing but little iiportaiee to the incident; for the antipodes are not farther from each other than from his imagination was the hope that his query would elicit the response it was destined to meet. ‘ Again I must ask you to excuse my COnNIEDOOKS (C(O)