The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 334: what you’re looking at

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

THE DAGGER O17 © me in being honoured by your ladyship’s presence here will amply compensate for her indisposition of this evening.”’ Indora turned aside for a moment to take a seat, and again did that glitter, so strange and so ominous, appear in her eyes, but again, too, did Marchmont fail to observe it. “T hope,” he said, “ that during the short time your ladyship has already. sojourned beneath this roof you have experienced every attention —”’ “T ought, perhaps,’’ interrupted Indora, “ at the very first moment when your Grace announced yourself, to have expressed my gratitude for your ‘kindness and that of the duchess in placing Oaklands at my disposal. I can assure your lordship I have been much interested.”’ ‘“T’am truly charmed to hear your ladyship thus speak,” exclaimed the duke. ‘“ Perhaps you will forgive me for saying that in addition to the desire to render the hospitali- ties of Oaklands as acceptable to your ladyship as possible, I was anxious to hasten hither, — and of course the duchess likewise, — to form the acquaintance of a lady of whom Madame Angelique spoke in such rapturous terms.”’ ‘‘ T cannot feel otherwise than flattered,’ answered Indora, with every appearance of the most courteous affability, ‘‘ by the kind mention which Madame Angelique must evidently have made of me.” “As Madame Angelique is a truth-speaking woman,” rejoined the duke, “‘ she could not do otherwise than mention your ladyship in the terms which alone are appropriate. Might I be excused for expressing my surprise that a lady who is a native of a far distant clime should be so conversant with the English tongue? Perhaps your ladyship has seen much of the English in India. But if so, how was it,’’ he asked, with a smile, “ that none was fortunate enough to win a hand which a monarch might rejoice to possess? ” “I saw very little of the English in India,” answered Indora, not choosing to have even the appearance of noticing the compliment with which the duke’s speech wound up. “ Perhaps, then,’ he continued, as if with the good- humoured familiarity which a host felt himself justified in using toward his guest, ‘ your ladyship has visited England with a determination of subduing all hearts, and eventually bestowing the prize on the one that may seem most devoted?”’ “Indeed your lordship is uselessly bewildering yourself COMnIClOO© Ss (C(O)