The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

34 REYNOLDS’ WORKS military terrorism, established by Narvaez and the adherents of Queen Christina, was now rampant. Men of unscrupulous dispositions were required as the chief political agents of this revived despotism, and the present Minister of the Interior was one of these. He had been the editor of a journal noted for its violent animosity to Espartero. At the beginning of the insurrection he had done his best to defame the character of that true-hearted patriot, and his services were rewarded by a portfolio in the Cabinet. But his induction into the ministry was not merely a recompense for his past conduct; it had likewise been brought about by the want of such personages as himself to carry out the views of the new régime. Of all these circumstances Kate Marshall was ignorant, she knowing but little of Spanish politics; and the landlady of the hotel, being too much accustomed to behold mere adventurers suddenly rising into high places, had not thought it worth while to give her English guest any detailed information upon the subject. _ It is not the custom for persons seeking an interview with a Spanish minister at his own private residence to send in their cards, or make any previous announcement of the object of their visit. Thus, until Kate Marshall entered that room, the high functionary whom we have described had not the least notion who was about to appear before him. He was evidently struck with the handsome person of the Eng- lish woman, and his dark eyes, having surveyed her from head to foot, settled upon her countenance, where the colour was coming and going in rapid transitions according as she was swayed by the varied emotions excited in her heart. She would much rather have found the minister to be a personage corresponding with the portraiture which her imagination had drawn than what she now found him to be, for there was something about him but little encouraging to one who had so important a boon to solicit. In a word, he seemed an individual who could be merciless and implacable if he chose, and poor Kate was for the first few instants tortured by her apprehensions. He did not at once address her, but with his eyes fixed upon her countenance, evidently waited for her to sive an explanation of her business. With trembling hands she drew forth the letter which the Marquis of Villebelle had sent, addressed to the minister; and as she presented it, her looks fell beneath the searching, almost burning and gloating CONNIE NOOO! KS (E(0)