The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

MR. SHADBOLT 363 “ What — what do you mean, my lord? What would you have done? What — what would you do? ”’ ‘“Indora,’ answered Marchmont, hovering as it were around the point to which he longed to come, but on which he dared not too abruptly seek to settle the Frenchwoman’s mind, — “‘ Indora is an obstacle or an eyesore, for some reason or another, in Sagoonah’s path? ”’ “Yes, my lord. Well?” and Madame Angelique held her breath half-hushed. “ Well,” continued the duke, and he drew his chair closer still toward the milliner, who sat just opposite to him, “ if Sagoonah were to remove that obstacle or eyesore, it were all the better for us? ”’ “Yes, my lord, if Sagoonah would,” said Madame Ange- lique, in a low, deep voice. “ But —”’ “ But what? ” asked the duke; then after a pause, during which he gazed significantly upon the milliner, he added, ‘“‘ Sagoonah is to meet you to-morrow, and the slightest hint, if backed by gold — ” “Yes, a hint, my lord,’ whispered Madame Angelique, at the same time that she glanced furtively to the right and left as if to assure herself that there was no listener. ‘“’ And it is for you to give this hint,’’ replied Marchmont, slowly and deliberately accentuating his words. Then those two — that unscrupulous aristocrat and that infamous woman — exchanged prolonged looks of intelli- gence; their meaning was now beyond disguise, and if it were not, these looks would have transfused it. There was a pause of several minutes, and at length Marchmont, laying his hand upon the milliner’s arm, said, “‘ Is it to be done? ”’ “Yes, it is to be done,”’ she responded, and a long-drawn breath followed that answer. Marchmont rose from his seat, filled two glasses with wine, handed one to Madame Angelique, and tossed the contents of the other down his throat. It was as if these two un- principled creatures were ratifying in blood-red wine the compact of blood which was settled between them. There was a little more conversation, and then the Luke of Marchmont took his departure. ECORNICLOO© <S (C(O)