The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

THE GAOL (3 doned or not. It was, I can assure you, my first intention, when I took up my pen, thus to confine myself to a vague and simple statement. But as I began to write, other reflec- tions entered my mind. What if your stratagem should altogether fail? What if the minister, exercising those terrific powers wherewith he had threatened me, should have me seized upon, even in the dead of night, hurried out of Spain, and cast upon the Portuguese or French frontier? I shuddered at the thought, and then, too, by a natural association, it occurred to me that the same agents of this arbitrary power might wrest from me the written document which I held, and that document was the only means by which, under any circumstances, I could retain a hold over your husband.” “TI understand,’ observed the minister’s wife. ‘‘ It was indeed most natural that these reflections should force themselves upon you. But proceed; for I am in haste to conduct you away from this horrible place,’ and the lady threw her shuddering looks around the massive walls of the cell. ‘““ Having reflected in that manner,’ resumed Kate, “ I deeply deplored that I had not consulted you on this subject; but those ideas had not entered my head previous to your departure, and when you were gone, I did not dare seek you at your own abode, for fear that his Excellency might ob- serve me. I therefore thought to myself that it was abso- lutely necessary to secure the document by some means or another, and to dispose of it in such a way that it might serve for eventual good, in case all other circumstances became adverse. I accordingly wrote the fullest details to Don Christoval, enclosing that document in the letter. I enjoined him the strictest secrecy, should it ultimately prove unnecessary to make use of the paper, and he is a man of honour, madam. He will not deviate one tittle from the injunctions I gave nor from the course that I laid down for him to follow. I argued to myself that it was scarcely a breach of the compact made between yourself and me to adopt this course, inasmuch as by your own counsel I ob- tained that undertaking from your husband.” | ‘“ Not for a moment,” responded the minister’s wife, ‘‘ do I consider it a breach of the compact. Yes, I counselled you to obtain that undertaking, so as to ensure the granting of CONNIE OOoOkKS (FO)