The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VI THE APPOINTMENT Ir was on the fourth morning after the interviews with the minister and his wife, and consequently verging toward the end of the week within the hmit of which it was so vitally necessary to adopt a decisive measure on behalf of Ned Russell, that Kate Marshall again apparelled herself in her handsomest costume. She expended a considerable time over her toilet, paying the minutest attention to every detail, and studying to render herself as attractive as possible. No doubt she felt that there was something meretricious in all this, but the image of her beloved, was uppermost in her mind, — she was doing it for his sake, and this was her con- solation. Her heart, too, beat high with hope, and this in- ward excitement gave a rich carnation bloom to her counte- nance. Never had Kate Marshall appeared to greater ad- vantage, never had her handsome countenance looked handsomer, never were the rich contours of her shape more admirably displayed by the aids of apparel. It was bordering upon noon when, having finished this careful toilet, Miss Marshall entered a hired vehicle, and was driven to the private dwelling of the Minister of the - Interior. This house, as already intimated, —and like many of the mansions at Madrid, — had two entrances. One was considered the private means of access to the family compartment, the other communicated with the official rooms of the minister himself; for we should have observed that although he transacted his principal business at the Ministry of the Interior, he nevertheless received, at a certain hour, applicants and visitors at his own private residence. Perhaps he had more motives than one in adopting this course; it might be that there were certain matters which 52 CONNIE DOO KS (E(0) Ae