Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZL. 171 ead anger and the fear that we had in some way been out- witted. : He stared at me with a smile of detestable insolence, but said nothing. } ‘* My child, you will have to leave me with this man a few minutes,” said my mother, entreatingly. ‘‘ Your feelings are carrying you beyond prudence.” ‘What does he mean, then?” I exclaimed, choking with apprehension. ‘‘ Where has he put Mrs. Ringwood?” The man stood immovable and unconcerned, with that in- tolerable smile on his face, and his features fixed. My anger rose beyond all barriers of prudence; I darted close to him and shook his arm, in the intensity of my indignation. *« Villain!” I ejaculated, ‘‘ you shall answer for the crimes of your mistress, if she escapes—remember that!” His face slowly changed, and became absorbed. «“ What crimes?” he asked, drawing back, ‘Oh, you will ruin all!” breathed my mother, drawing me away. My passion cooled, and I saw my own imprudence. ‘*Mr. Morecombe, I ask you once more where your mis- tress is?” said my mother. | ‘You passed her on the road, madam.” ‘Explain yourself,” said my mother, patiently. ‘Mrs. Ringwood is at Silverlea.” «* At Silverlea!” she grew whiter than the dank mist out- _ side. I felt my flaming heart grow cold as the winter wind. ‘* How can that be?” I asked, in a low voice; ‘‘ did we not see you all the way from Ranelagh to this place?” ‘Not all the way, Miss Rienzi; not when my mistress alighted at the Silverlea gate and walked up to see Mrs. Rienzi and her daughters, who unfortunately are not all at home. Oh, not all the way!” This allusion to the state of affairs at Silverlea almost frenzied us with consternation. ‘‘Why did you not tell us this when you saw us pass the _ | house?” «* A servant, madam, only obeys orders.” “But apparently you have no business to do at Shirley.’ ‘©T have done the business,” said the crafty villain, mov- ing off; ‘‘and now ma’am, if there's nothing else you would like to know about Mrs. Ringwood, ll go back to her,” 3 Comicbooks.co