The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 374: what you’re looking at

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

MR. SHADBOLT oo7 “ You think so? ”’ said the duke, and a strange expression passed over his countenance. “ Listen, Madame Angelique,’’ he continued to observe, ‘* you do not know these Eastern women, — it is impossible to fathom their designs. They are stealthy and treacherous as the serpents which belong to their native clime. Sagoonah’s warning is not to be neg- lected. Rest assured that the Princess Indora is terribly vindictive — ”’ At this moment a domestic entered, and whispered some- thing in the ear of Madame Angelique. “Very good,’ said the woman; “I will come in a mo- ment.” ‘‘ What is it,’’ asked the duke, when the servant had with- drawn. | “A gentleman who has just entered the saloon from Monsieur Bertin’s house,’’ was the response. ‘Then pray get rid of your patron, whoever he is, as soon as possible,’ said Marchmont, in a tone of visible 1ll-humour, ‘for our conversation is of much greater moment just at present than any visits in the way of business.” “T will not be many minutes absent,” responded the Frenchwoman. “ It is doubtless a stranger — one of neigh- bour Bertin’s recommendation — and I am bound to be courteous and civil toward him.”’ Having thus spoken, Madame Angelique issued from her private apartment, leaving the duke by himself there, and she proceeded to that saloon which on former occasions we have described. None of the young ladies were there at the moment, but she saw that the individual who had just been introduced thither was carefully examining the mirror- contrived door. He was handsomely dressed, but the keen, experienced eye of Madame Angelique at once detected that he was not a gentleman, in the common acceptance of the term. Indeed, there was something vulgar in his appearance, and he did not seem. accustomed to the elegant apparel which he had on. A suspicion of evil flashed to the mind of the infamous proprietress of the establishment, but putting on a smiling countenance, she accosted the visitor, who had been so absorbed in examining the mirror-contrived door that he had not in the first instance noticed her entran’: irom the opposite side of the room. “ You are Madame Angelique? ”’ he said. COnnICEcOoOolks (C(O) mn