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 DRAMA OF A NIGHT 25 ‘Curzon, you are jesting, you are joking,’ stammered Malpas, turning still more deadly pale than at first, and inasmuch as the muzzles of the pistols were pointblank toward him, he shifted his chair in such a manner as to place himself beyond the limit of their range. ‘Silence, and do not interrupt me!’’ exclaimed the Earl of Curzon, in astern voice. Then, resuming a deliberate and measured tone, he said, ‘‘ For a month past you and I have been apparently upon friendly terms together, but believe me when I say that all the while there has been such a rankling, festering, irritating spirit within me that I have often loathed myself for thus being even commonly civil to one who — But no matter, we have not time for unnecessary comment, barely sufficient for requisite explana- tion. Once more listen, then. We are about to separate, and before we part you must tell me everything. I need not tell you what it is that I seek to know. Your very looks at this moment are a sufficient indication that you compre- hend me full well. But this I may say, tell me everything, and I will allow you to go unhurt and secatheless. I will not avenge myself on you, provided you give me the means of avenging myself on another. For, mark you,’’ continued the earl, whose feelings had been gradually growing excited while he was thus speaking, “my wife— Ah! now you start more visibly still as I thus allude to her.”’ “Go on, my lord, go on,’’ said Malpas, most painfully anxious to arrive at the end of the colloquy, so that the pistols might disappear from the table. ‘ As I was saying, then,’’ resumed the earl, now speaking hurriedly, as if he were also desirous to terminate the present scene, “‘ my wife, the moment she hears of Julia Owen’s elopement with me, will be taking active steps to obtain a divorce. But I must be beforehand with her. "Tis | who must take the initiative, or if I should be fore- stalled in that respect, I must at all events be enabled to turn around and retaliate with a countercharge of adultery. Now, Colonel Malpas, you understand me, and no man in the world can better than yourself give me the informa- tion which I require. Once more, then, do I enjoin you to tell me everything, the whole history of your connection with my wife, from first to last, and on that condition alone will I spare you.” CoOnniclooolxs (C(O) am