The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

54 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“‘ Because,” she added, “ nothing makes a person appear more ridiculous than the confession of having given way to superstitious terror.” She then proceeded to explain how she had discovered that the pipes of the organ were the sources of the sounds which had alarmed her. ‘“T agree with your ladyship,” said Monsieur Volney, who had listened with deep attention to Zoe’s narrative, “ that it is always better in such cases to proceed to an investi- gation at once. But tell me frankly, Lady Octavian Mere- dith,’”’ he continued, fixing his regards scrutinizingly upon her, “‘is this the only source of alarm which you have ex- perienced since you have been in the chateau? ”’ Zoe blushed, and for an instant looked confused, but the next moment recovering her self-possession, she said, “I will answer you frankly, Monsieur Volney, and if I had in- tended to suppress certain circumstances which I am now about to reveal, it was only because I dreaded to appear ridiculous in your eyes.” ‘Speak, Lady Octavian,” said the French gentleman, still regarding her with a visible interest, and with a strong, even painful, curiosity. Zoe proceeded to explain how she had twice seen a figure gliding rapidly and noiselessly along at the extremity of the passage, and at about the same hour on the two consecutive evenings. “Is your ladyship sure,’ inquired Monsieur Volney, “ that these were not the phantoms of mere imagination, influenced by the knowledge of the legend attached to the chateau? ”’ ‘“‘ Tt is possible that the second occurrence might thus have been the result of fancy,’ answered Zoe, “ although in my own mind I can scarcely arrive at such a conviction. But that in the first instance it was quite otherwise, I can positively affirm, inasmuch as it was not until the following morning I became acquainted with the legend, when one of my maids was accidentally led to narrate it.”’ “TI positively charged my daughter as well as the ser- vants,’’ said Monsieur Volney, “‘ not to make that legend the subject of their idle gossip in respect to either your lady- ship or your own domestics, for though I had too high an opinion of your intellect, Lady Octavian, to imagine for a moment that such a tale would at all disturb your equa- CORNICLOOKS (EO) im