The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 225: what you’re looking at

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

198 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “Silence! enough, enough,” ejaculated Ethel. ‘‘ What is it that you require? Gold? If so, name the sum— But, ah! think not for a minute that it is because I am really suilty — No! criminal though I have been in other re- spects— But, my God! to have thus to speak in the presence of a menial,’ said the countess, suddenly turning aside and murmuring these few last words to herself; “ it is dreadful — dreadful.” | ‘Gold? No, I need not gold, — at least not yet from you,” and here Makepeace suddenly lowered his own voice to an undertone; then again speaking aloud, he added, ‘No, my lady; it is not gold that I want from your hands. Look you! we are here alone together; no one overhears us, and therefore I may as well tell you — ”’ “ What?” ejaculated Ethel, with a half-shriek as she sank back in affright from the bold insolent looks which the valet bent upon her as he leaned partially toward her. “ For Heaven’s sake be quick, and let this scene end! ”’ ‘It is nearly finished,” rejoined Makepeace, ‘“‘ so far as I am concerned; it will be your fault if it is prolonged. In one word, then, you are the handsomest of women, and if to-night, when all the house is quiet, you hear a gentle tap at your chamber door — ”’ The word ‘ Monster,’”’ came up to the very tip of the Countess of Lascelles’ tongue, but she could not give utter- ance to it, for though she had expected some insolent avowal or overture of this sort, yet nevertheless now when it was made it struck her as heavy a blow as if it were perfectly unanticipated. She was seized with consternation and dis- may, and she sat gazing with wild, staring eyes upon the valet. ‘Yes, now your ladyship understands my meaning,” he went on to say, with the air of one who felt he had only to dictate his own terms in order to obtain them, ‘‘ and I need not tell your ladyship that everything must be kept secret between you and me. Of course you will be silent for your own sake, and your ladyship need not be afraid that before my lord or any of the servants I shall betray what takes place by any familiarity on my part.” Ethel groaned inwardly; she saw how completely she was in the villain’s power, for she thought to herself, “ If by opposition or resistance on my part he is driven to a vindictive course, there is at least one who will go to the ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)