The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 386: what you’re looking at

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

THE SECRET EXPEDITION d00 ductile and tractable to induce him to submit to any con- ditions without asking a single question, and sufficiently needy or else avaricious to induce him to enter heart and soul into the entire business for the sake of the handsome reward held out. Such was the man I had to find, —I, a comparative stranger at Geneva! Nevertheless, aided by my perfect knowledge of the tongue, guided by my discretion, and encouraged by my innate spirit of perseverance, I succeeded; and in Doctor Maravelli are comprised all the qualifications which I have enumerated. Indeed he is a most valuable personage — But here we are at the entrance of the lane leading to his house.”’ ‘““ Lane indeed! ’’ murmured Agatha, recoiling for a mo- ment in alarm from the deep shade of the dismal, narrow, cutthroat-looking street, or rather alley, the mouth of which they had just reached. For while Mrs. Ranger was delivering herself of the long harangue which we have just recorded, she and her young companion had threaded the fields in safety and now reached the city; but so narrow was the- alley into which Mrs. Ranger was about to lead the way that no ray of the pure cold moonlight could penetrate down into the darkness of its shades. ‘Good heavens, Agatha!’’ said Mrs. Ranger, perceiving that her companion stopped short; “‘ what are you afraid of? ” ‘‘ Afraid,’ responded Miss Owen, her teeth again chatter- ing audibly, “‘ ’tis enough to make any one afraid to think of penetrating into this dreadful neighbourhood where there is not a lamp to light the street, no, nor even a candle flicker- ing from a window. And talking of being afraid, how is it that you, whom I have seen at times so nervous — especially about robbers when we have been travelling — ” ‘‘ Nervousness, my dear, is a fashionable luxury to which I give way either as a pastime for myself,’’ responded Mrs. Ranger, ‘‘ or else as a means of making other people un- comfortable when I see them too happy. But I can put off my nervousness just as easily as I can a gala dress when the particular occasion for wearing it is over. Indeed, I can always pump up my courage to a degree commensurate with circumstances. And now, Agatha, are you going to be outdone by me in respect to presence of mind? ”’ CoOnniclooolks (C(O)