The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

60 REYNOLDS’ WORKS and all arrangements being made by him in faithful com- pliance with Kate Marshall’s stipulations, he tore up the veil, and straining her in his arms, pressed his lips to hers. “ Now,” he said, “‘ let me lead you hence.” She had spoken not a word; she appeared to have sur- rendered herself like a willing victim to his embrace. She accompanied him up the stairs; the landing was crossed, the chamber was entered. For obvious reasons we must pass with some degree of haste over this scene. Suffice it to say that half an hour had elapsed from the moment that the Minister of the Interior had conducted the female to his chamber, when he ex- claimed, in the English tongue, “‘ By Heaven, there is some mystery in all this! You answer my impassioned language in monosyllables, and these lowly murmured. A suspicion, yes, a suspicion has flashed to my mind— No, it has been growing and growing for some minutes past — now it is confirmed — By Heaven, I will be satisfied! ” “Remember your solemn pledge, sir,” male voice, in the darkness of that chamber, and also speak- ing in English, “ there is to be no light.” ‘“ Ah, this voice! ”’ ejaculated the minister, full of wilder- ing astonishment and affright, “it is not that of her whom I expected — though feigned, I know that it is not. It has not her accents — I am deceived — But, by the living God, I will clear up the mystery.” ‘““ Remember, sir, the dagger —’ ‘Away with all considerations!” eried the almost in- furiate man. “ At any risk —” ‘Then the consequences be upon your own head,” again murmured that female voice. ‘‘ Itis | who promised to meet you, it is I who have abandoned myself to you. Give me the pardon, and suffer me to depart.” The minister had remained perfectly still, and listening breathlessly to her words as she thus spoke, for he sought, with all the keenness of the sense of hearing, to discover whether it were really Kate Marshall’s voice or another. ‘“ No, no, I am deceived,’’ he ejaculated, now speaking !n his own native tongue. ‘“ There is something startling in all this.” , He rushed to the chimneypiece, where there were ma- terials ready for striking a light. His female companion ) whispered a fe-— ECORNIELOOOKS (E(@)