The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 342: what you’re looking at

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

THE DAGGER 395 On returning to the mansion as the dinner-hour ap- proached, he again felt an inclination to put certain inquiries to Purvis, and again was he by a second thought prevented. The dinner passed, — that dinner to which he sat down all alone; and when it was over he again went wandering about like an unsettled spirit. When the dusk was closing in, he reentered the mansion, and as he repaired to the drawing- room, one of the domestics preceded him with wax lights. Then, as if his mind was suddenly made up in respect to a point on which he had so often hesitated throughout this agitated day, the duke said, “ Bid Purvis come hither.” In a few minutes the old steward entered the apartment, but even still the duke felt disinclined to approach the par- ticular topic. At length, however, he said, “‘ Purvis, some- thing so strange occurred last night that I have made up my mind to speak to you on the subject — and yet it is so pain- ful a one that you will not wonder I have throughout this day dreaded to approach it.” The old steward was utterly at a loss to conjecture what could have thus occurred, though, on the other hand, he was scarcely at a loss to comprehend what the painful topic must be; for whenever such an allusion was made beneath that roof, it was always at once taken for granted that it referred to the tragedy of nineteen years back. “ The fact is, Purvis,’ continued the duke, ‘‘ I had some little design in respect to that lady; but of course that’s my own affair, and nothing to do with any of my servants. I was misled as to her character. I thought she was inclined to be gay, whereas I found the very reverse to be the case. However, the point on which I desired to speak with you may be explained in a few words. Last night, Purvis, I found that lady armed with a weapon of defence, and the weapon was— you know what I mean. It was the same identical one which my wretched brother used —”’ “That dagger, my lord?” cried the old steward, in mingled astonishment and dismay. “ Yes, and I see that you know something about it.” exclaimed the duke. ‘‘ Come, tell me. Think you that it is a pleasant thing for me to have paraded before my eyes that memorial of the terrible past? ”’ “My lord, I am deeply sorry,” said ie “but I begin to understand — CORNICLOO© Ss (C(O)