The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

a, 28 THE COURT OF LONDON he levelled both the weapons pointblank at Curzon’s head. “Don’t be a fool,” said the nobleman, without losing his presence of mind, and even with a smile of disdain upon his lip. “By Heaven!” exclaimed Malpas, ‘I will fire, unless you give me certain explanations in your turn. First, then, the secret of your connection with Lady Sackville — ”’ “You are mighty brave, all of a sudden, Malpas,” inter- rupted the earl, eying the colonel with calm contempt, ‘* put those pistols are not really loaded.”’ ‘“‘ Then in that case,’ cried Malpas, who was well assured of the contrary, for he felt convinced that the earl would not have encumbered himself with a pair of useless weapons, ‘in that case there will be no harm in my firing the pistols at you, just by way of amusement.’’ ‘Cease this jesting,”’ said the earl, with a slight but perceptible change of countenance, and a simultaneous recoil from the muzzle of the pistols. ‘“ Ah!” cried Malpas, in accents of triumph and assurance, ‘“T see that they are loaded, and I take Heaven to witness that I will fire. For mark you, I] am a desperate man, set- ting little value on life, because having little left to live for, and I will fire, then, unless you place yourself as much in my power as I have placed myself in yours. Say, then, the secret of your connection with Lady Sack- ville.”’ ‘“ She has made me her agent in the same way as she has done by you,” responded Curzon, now really alarmed lest the colonel should be tempted by the frenzied excitement of opportunity to a fearful retaliation for the scene which had previously taken place. “No, not merely her agent,’’ ejaculated the colonel, his countenance growing more pale and his lips quivering more nervously through the effort which it cost him thus to display so much energy. ‘‘ Not her agent, I say, but her lover. Confess the truth.”’ “Well, it is the truth,’’ rejoined the earl, believing that Malpas had worked himself up to a pitch of excitement rendering him perfectly reckless and desperate. “That is enough for me,” said the colonel, and depositing the pistols upon the table, he instantaneously emptied a ECORNICIOOKS (E(0) im