Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 39 ‘* Took at it? uy darling, you may trust Iva.” She gave me the letter, with a sweet look of love, and I went away, eager to serve her. ) Half-way down stairs I met Sophie. ‘“Go up and help Miss Meredith to dress for dinner; it is almost six o’clock.” “‘ Yes, Miss Iva. There’s the ge ‘‘T cannot wait now, Sophie; I will be back in a moment to hear what you wish to say.” Why did I not listen? In the second hall I encountered Cecil Beaumont laying his hat and gloves on the stand. He met me with a jaunty air. His eyes were glittering—his small sharp teeth were glittering also; there was a curious expression about him of being ‘‘ girded for the fight.” . ‘““How do you do this evening, sir?” I uttered, hiding the letter in the folds of my dress as I approached him. «Will you walk into the drawing-room for one moment alone?” ‘‘What does my little friend bring me to-night?” he re- turned, seizing my hand. ‘The ill-omened envelope rustled against my silken skirt. «* Ha! does she send me a dismissal by letter?” he cried. ««Sir, this letter is not for you. Let me go.” “For whom then? For whom ?” His eyes blazed with sudden apprehension. In an in- stant he had drawn me into the drawing-room and shut the door. ‘‘ For whom?” he repeated, in the same tone. «Sir, I decline to tell you. Let me pass.” ‘‘ Did she write it, Isolina?”’ I hesitated. «‘This is most cowardly conduct,” I retorted. «She did write it then!” By this time the letter was in his hand. The room being dim he deliberately drew me across to the fire, and bent over the address, his hand trembling too much with insane jeal- ousy to allow him to read. | «© Monster!” I cried, springing forward. With superhuman quickness I snatched it from him and dashed it into the burning heart of the fire. The ill-fated missive curled and broke into yellow flames in an instant. : | 53 5 comicboo co