The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

38 THE COURT OF LONDON finding their way into the hands of resurrectionists at the very spot where she had committed her sister’s still-born child to the watery depths, “so far from not giving this officer a proper account of myself, I expressly told him that I had wandered forth in a strange and unaccountable mood for a solitary ramble on the border of the lake, and that it was in a listless, unpremeditated manner that I picked up a stone against which my foot struck and tossed it into the water.” ‘“T admit that the lady gave me these explanations,”’ observed the sergeant, “‘ but I did not consider them satis- factory, especially as her name and address were studiously withheld.”’ ‘The officer has but done his duty,’ said the magistrate, addressing Emma in a mild and courteous tone. ‘‘ Without offermg any comment upon your explanation of this unsea- sonable ramble at so strange a spot, I shall at once allow you to depart upon your giving me some proof of your respect- ability.” ‘“T have not the slightest objection,’ said Emma, with- out a moment’s demur, “ to give you my name and explain to you who I am and where_I live. But inasmuch as an evil interpretation might be put on this very innocent proceed- ing of mine, —I mean my unseasonable ramble, —I need scarcely point out to you how much I am at your mercy relative to the amount of publicity you may give thereto. But throwing myself entirely on your generous considera- tion, I have no hesitation in confessing that my name is Emma Owen, and that I am one of the ladies belonging to the household of the Princess of Wales.”’ ‘This may be so, and I do not say that I doubt it,” re- marked the magistrate, “‘ but still I must require some corroboratron. Will you permit the sergeant to return with you to the villa inhabited by her Royal Highness the Eng- lish princess? Or will you send for some tradesman with whom you deal to identify you? ”’ “Yes, I will adopt this latter course,” said Emma, catch- ing at the proposal. 3 Then, bethinking herself of a very civil and obliging linen-draper with whom she and her sisters had spent a tolerable amount of money, she at once gave his address. The sergeant lost no time in proceeding to the establishment ) GOMIGDOOKS (E(0)