The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER II THE CRIME RALPH FAREFIELD was, as we have already observed, startled from what may be termed the lethargy of a continu- ous debauch upon receiving the intelligence that Lady Saxondale had presented her husband with a son and heir. He suddenly became an altered man, and throwing aside his dissipated habits, as he would a garment which he had worn long enough, he began not merely to deliberate with calmness, but also to act with decision. His acquaintance with the low dens of debauchery in London had taught him where, in case of need, he could lay his hands upon the des- perate characters suited to his purpose, and these he was not long in finding out. In the first instance he despatched a secret emissary down into Lincolnshire, who was in- structed to prowl about Saxondale Castle and take note of any circumstances which might tend to forward the scheme that Ralph Farefield had in view. This was nothing more or less than to carry off the infant Edmund, and make away with him. ‘The emissary was accordingly instructed to watch when the child was taken out for an airing, where it was so taken, by whom, and whether its nurse ever walked to any distance from the immediate precincts of the castle. The man whom Ralph employed on this service was astute, cunning, and wary, and promised to fulfil his mission with despatch and fidelity. Profligate and unprincipled as Ralph Farefield was, bitter as were his vindictive feelings against his uncle, and his hatred for Lady Saxondale, deep, too, as was the stake which he had to play, he nevertheless recoiled from the idea of committing murder with his own hand. He shrank thus, not merely from that instinctive horror of shedding blood, 13 (SO) CoOnnicooolkKks