The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

42 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ware likewise how, on going forth from this cabinet, you breathe a single word to my prejudice, for again I say, remember that I have powers whereof I should not fail to make use. And those powers I would exercise ruthlessly, mercilessly. Your chamber should be invaded by gendarmes, ignominiously should you be hurried through Spain in their custody, and turned adrift on the frontier of Portugal or of France. Ii therefore you have a friend, a confidant, or an adviser in the Spanish capital, see that you explain in guarded terms the particulars of this interview. Madrid is vast, its buildings are numerous, but there is not a wall which hath not ears to drink in whatsoever may be spoken to the dis- advantage of those who occupy high places. Follow my counsel, and you will not be molested; disobey me in only a single tittle, and you shall be made to rue the consequences. And now one word more. From a certain date the captain- general of Catalonia had power to suspend your lover’s sentence for three weeks: of that period ten days have al- ready expired. It would not be safe for you to suffer more than another week at the very outside to elapse ere you definitely resolve upon the course you will adopt. During this week, therefore, which is now to ensue, I shall at any instant be prepared to receive another visit from Miss Mar- shall. But if you come again, — and you will come, — let it be with the foreknowledge that argument 1s useless, inter- cession vain, upbraiding a mere airy nothing. If you come, therefore, let it be with the firm resolution of adopting the only alternative that may save your lover’s life.” During the delivery of this infamous speech, Kate Mar- shall’s countenance expressed, as she listened, every variety of feeling which the several portions thereof were but too well calculated to excite. Pain the most mentally acute, indignation the most highly wrought, astonishment the most confounding, disgust the most ineffable, abhorrence the most intense, —all in their turn were these experienced by the young English woman. When the speech was over, she was about to turn away, and in silence take her departure, but she felt that she could not thus withdraw unavenged by the only weapons which she had to wield, namely, words, and there- fore she tarried a few moments longer to give expression to her sentiments. ‘T had read and I had heard,” she said, with flashing eyes COMMICLOOOLKSs EC)