The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

314 REYNOLDS’ WORKS than mere curiosity. It was about two o’clock when they reached the mansion, and Indora, having partaken of refreshment, walked forth again into the grounds, but this time unattended by the old steward, who was wearied with his ramble of the forenoon. The princess walked as far as the village, and passed the little inn where Bertram Vivian had his last interview with his brother, — then Lord Clandon. The very room had been notified by Purvis, in the minuteness of the details which he had given the princess, and her eyes were riveted for a minute upon the window of that room. When she pursued her way, tears were trickling from those eyes. Perchance, in the natural generosity and kindness of her disposition, she was melted by the thought that within that very room a fellow creature had endured the most excruciating anguish which the human mind could know. In the evening the Princess Indora again had an oppor- tunity of conversing with the old steward, and she inquired relative to the other servants who were at Oaklands at the time the tragedy took place. He gave her the same in- formation which he had given to Christian Ashton at the time the youth was at the mansion, namely, that Leachley, the late duke’s valet, was thriving as a farmer about a dozen miles off; that Jane, the Duchess Eliza’s favourite maid, had sone mad after the tragic occurrence, and that he alone, of all the domestics who were at Oaklands on the occasion of the duke’s murder, now remained there. After he had given some other particulars respecting a few of those servants who had risen in the world, he said, ‘‘ And there is the present duke’s valet, too, he likewise has risen, and in order to conceal his humble origin he has taken another name.”’ ‘ Under what circumstances? ”’ asked Indora. ‘He has grown rich, my lady,” responded Purvis. “ His proper name is Travers, his assumed one is Armytage, and his daughter has married a nobleman, Lord Octavian Meredith.”’ ‘““ Indeed! ’’ exclaimed Indora, ‘‘ the names of Lord and Lady Octavian Meredith are not unfamiliar to me. And that Mr. Armytage, you tell me, was originally the present duke’s valet? ”’ “Certainly he was, my lady. When the present duke succeeded to the title after his uncle’s death, he appointed Travers to the post of bailiff; and a little time after that, CORNICE OO KS (E(0) m