The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

FRESH ADVENTURES 157 enabled by the clearness of the night to read the name upon it. “ Well, my lord,’”’ she said, with a somewhat more respect- ful tone, — though all along her manner had been affably familiar and flippantly gracious enough, — “I of course begin to believe that you are serious in what you have said, for of course a gentleman never breaks a promise, and a lord is more than a gentleman.” ‘““ Now, tell me who you are waiting for?’ said the young nobleman. ‘For my mistress, whom I expect home every minute,”’ was the reply. ‘I got so tired of waiting that I came out, hoping to hear the sounds of the carriage-wheels. And, by the bye, the moment we do catch them, your lordship must hasten away.” “Would your mistress chide you for speaking to me? ”’ asked Saxondale. “I don’t exactly know that she would, for she is indulgent enough,’ was the response, “‘ but at the same time if any one came home with her, 1t would look so odd for me to be seen talking to a gentleman at the gate. Besides —”’ ‘“‘ Besides what?’ inquired Saxondale, as the soubrette suddenly stopped short. ‘“‘ Tell me, what were you about to say? ” “Oh, nothing,’”’ rejoined the young woman, with an arch smile through the bars of the gate. ‘‘ Only —” “Only what? You have got something at the very tip of your tongue and do not like to say it.” “Well, my lord, I am speaking to a stranger,’’ returned the young woman, somewhat more seriously than before, “and of course I do not like to gossip about my mistress’s affairs to everybody.” “ Your mistress belongs to the opera? ”’ observed Saxon- dale. , “ Ah, then you know something about her?” at once exclaimed the soubrette. ‘‘ And now I remember your lord- ship did say something about entertaining certain views and requiring my assistance. Was that said for fun or in earnest? ”’ ‘ Quite in earnest,’ answered Saxondale, “‘ and it was for that purpose I promised you a reward. Indeed, if I had not been robbed —’’ ) COnNIELDOOKS (S(O)