The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 91: what you’re looking at

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74 REYNOLDS’ WORKS the pardon by my husband, and you did well to adopt the precaution which you are describing.”’ “My narrative will be terminated in a few minutes,” resumed Kate. “ Recollecting how his Excellency had threatened to avail himself of his power to intercept my correspondence at the post-office, I deemed that medium of conveyance to be an unsafe one for the transmission of my letter to Don Christoval. I accordingly despatched it by a mounted courier, who took his departure for Barcelona at about five o’clock this evening.”’ ‘‘ And what course,’’ inquired the lady, “ did you instruct Count Christoval to adopt? ”’ “T requested his lordship to take no steps for eighteen hours after the receipt of mv despatch, but if at the expira- tion of that time he received not a second despatch from me, he was then to conclude that circumstances were adverse, that I was no longer the mistress of my own actions, that I was either in a prison or else being hurried out of Spain — ” “And in that case?’’ inquired the munister’s wife, anxiously. “In that case,’’? responded Miss Marshall, “‘ I implored and entreated that his lordship would lose not a moment in taking horse, speeding to Madrid, calling on your husband, and making such use of my written narrative, corroborated as it was by that undertaking, as under all circumstances he might think fit.” “Then no harm is done which may not be repaired,”’ exclaimed the lady, in a joyful tone. ‘‘ You have conducted all these proceedings, my dear Miss Marshall, with a most delicate consideration toward myself, and with far more con- sideration than my husband deserved at your hands. But come, let us hasten away from this dreadful place.” Kate did not require to be told twice to put on her bonnet and shawl; the turnkey was waiting at the end of the passage, and as the door of the cell opened, he hastened for- ward to take the light and guide the two females forth. In a few minutes they stood in the open street and Kate oreathed the air of freedom once more just as the prison clock was proclaiming the hour of three in the morning. The hotel where she lodged lay in the same direction as that which the minister’s wife had to take, and therefore they proceeded together. Had it been otherwise, the magnanimous lady CONNIE OO KS (E(0)