The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

THE BILLS OF EXCHANGE — 25 “T will,” said the countess, endeavouring to compose her looks and her feelings. ‘‘ You communicated your embarrassments to me, and I was distracted at the thought of seeing you borne off to a debtors’ prison. I therefore resolved to adopt a desperate course in order to save you. And yet it neither seemed to me so desperate nor dangerous, after all; because, from what you told me, I understood clearly enough that if you provided the funds in time to take up the bills, the earl need never know that his name had been made use of at all. And that you would so pro- vide the funds in due season I felt confident. Well, I ob- tained from the earl’s file of papers an old bill which he -had honoured some time since; and I imitated his signature, after some practice, to the best of my ability. You had previously told me that if I obtained his acceptance to the blank stamps, you would fill them up. Now, you must forgive me, my dear Percy,’ said the countess, in a tone of . impassioned pea “for I did all this entirely through devotion to you.’ ‘Forgive you, dearest Editha! ’”’ exclaimed Malpas, much of whose enthusiasm of tone and manner was affected; “how can I do otherwise than forgive you? You have risked much — I do not think you are precisely aware how much — for my sake; and it is fortunate that we are in such hands as Emmerson’s. He is a perfect gentleman, pos- sessed of great influence in the City, and will soon be an -alderman,’’ added the colonel, sententiously; for he was making these remarks in order to propitiate the bill-broker whose close vicinage was so little suspected by the Countess of Curzon. “ Tt is indeed fortunate that the bills ate in such hands,”’ said the countess, now bitterly repenting the imprudence into which a passionate infatuation had betrayed her at the time. ‘“ But does he already inh that you have received them from me? ”’ “I was compelled to confess the truth, Editha,’’ replied Malpas; “‘ or else he would have given me into custody on a charge of forgery.’’ “ Ah! then you hesitated not to sacrifice my honour in order to save your own,” ejaculated the countess, suddenly starting from the sofa, while the rich blood mantled in scarlet glow through the transparent duskiness of her skin. ECONNICOOO <S (CO)