The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 143: what you’re looking at

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126 THE COURT OF LONDON that a scene was to be avoided in the presence of the foot- man; and, with admirable composure, she immediately said, ‘“Show Mr. Sampson into the adjoining room.”’ The domestic retired; and the instant the door closed behind him, the lady said, in a hurried, altered, and even hollow tone, “* Do you think he has tracked you hither? ” ‘Tt looks like it,’ answered Coffin. ‘‘ And yet, if he had, he wouldn’t send in to say he wanted to speak to you, but he would make a rush of it at once with his runners, or else lie in wait in the street till I went out again.”’ ‘But what on earth can he want with me?” said the lady, trembling from head to foot, the thought of the tragedy at the Blackheath villa being uppermost in her mind. “Oh, he doesn’t want you, ma’am, for any harm,” re- turned Daniel Coffin; ‘ or else he’d have come bang in and have taken you at once. I’m up to all the dodges of these rum customers. Most likely, after all, he’s got a scent of me; and not being quite sure of 1t, is come to ask whether such a genelman as Mr. Dan’el Coffin has paid your ladyship a visit this evening. You'd better not keep him waiting.” “No, it would be imprudent,’ said Ernestina. Then, somewhat reassured by the observations of the Hangman relative to herself, she placed the five guineas upon the table, observing, ““ You can leave the house quietly in a few moments.” She then quitted the apartment; and summoning all her courage to her aid, she entered the adjoining room, where Mr. Sampson rose from a seat and made her a profound salutation. ‘Your ladyship will pardon me for intruding at this late hour, and at a moment when your ladyship’s grief must be so acute after the sad result of to-day,’ began the officer: ‘but I am sure that when I mention the object of my in- trusion, and when I add that I shall not detain your ladyship three minutes — ” “You need not apologize, Mr. Sampson,” interrupted Ernestina, now regaining complete confidence, as she felt assured that neither his manner nor his words denoted a hostile intent. ‘‘I am indeed overwhelmed with sorrow; but you must not think that I bear any ill will toward your- self. I know that in arresting my husband, you only did your duty.” EORNICGLOOOLKS (E©)