The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUKE | o45 “ Pray tell me, my lord, what has occurred?” and the infamous woman was still quivering with suspense. ‘All your precious schemes resulted in nothing,’’ re- sponded Marchmont, “or in something much worse than nothing, for my discomfiture was complete, my failure signal, — perdition take it!” “And will there be any evil consequences? Does she threaten law? ’’ demanded Madame Angelique, quickly. ‘“No, no; we are safe enough upon that score,” rejoined the duke. ' “Then wherefore look so wild? Why appear thus troubled? Your Grace has frightened me so — ”’ “TI scarcely know what is the matter with me,” answered the duke. ‘‘ I too have been frightened — But no, no, that . is all nonsense on my part. In a word, I don’t know what I am saying. Give me more wine.”’ ‘“ Pardon me, my lord,’’ said Madame Angelique, “‘ but I really think you have taken enough.”’ “Why, you old wretch,” he exclaimed angrily; “it is wine bought with my money, I’ll be bound.”’ ‘“ Well, well, my lord, pray do not get out of temper,’ and she filled him a tumbler accordingly. ‘This is the elixir that makes man forget his cares and drowns thought,” cried the duke, affecting a hilarious mood, but it was a feeble and sickly endeavour. ‘“ There,”’ he added, “* that cheers me, — that inspires me,’’ and yet an almost ghastly expression of care and anguish swept over his features. Madame Angelique gazed upon him with mingled terror and astonishment. She knew not what to think. In spite of the assurance he had given her, she still laboured under the apprehension that some trouble would arise from their defeated projects in respect to Indora. ‘What ails your Grace?” she asked, in an agony of suspense; “ there is something unnatural in all this.”’ “ If you said that there was something extraordinary and incomprehensible in the Eastern lady’s conduct, you would be right enough,’ responded Marchmont. “Instead of finding one who was to be easily vanquished — ”’ “I never told your Grace that the conquest would be an easy one,” interrupted Madame Angelique. ‘‘ I warned you that she was a paragon of virtue — ”’ COMNICOO© Ss (SO)