The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 396: what you’re looking at

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

— A NIGHT ADVENTURE O19 “1 did not for an instant suppose,’’ rejoined her ladyship, “that you would trust me out of your sight. My chamber is at no great distance hence, and easily accessible. One of you can proceed thither.”’ “ Well, that looks reasonable enough,’ remarked Chiffin, “because one of us will-in that case stay to keep guard upon you. I say,’ he continued, turning toward his com- panion, ‘* you shall act the part of sentinel. Here, take my clasp-knife, hold it open in one hand, and keep the pistol in t’other. Don’t be afraid to use ’em if need be. Keep your eye on her ladyship’s face the whole time, — it’s a pleasant face to look at, — and if you see the least inclination on her part to cry out, don’t hesitate to give her a knock over the head with the butt-end of the pistol, or slit her windpipe with the cold steel.”’ “Trust to me,’ replied Tony Wilkins, as he received from the hand of his companion the clasp-knife which this latter produced from the capacious pocket of his shaggy coat. For an instant—-and only for an instant — did Lady Saxondale seem to quiver with a cold shuddering at the horrible instructions which Chiffin thus gave his companion, and which instructions he purposely elaborated in this cold-blooded manner in order to convince Lady Saxondale that it was no child’s play and that any trickery on her part would cost her her life. “Now, ma’am,’’ continued the Cannibal, “if you’ll just be so good as to give me all necessary directions, I'll take the liberty of proceeding to your ladyship’s chamber. But mind, I warn you beforehand, that if you think of throwing me in the way of any of your flunkies, or sending me into an ambush, I’ll plant a bullet through the brains of the first that dares to lay a hand upon me. And mind you, if my friend here, who is going to act the part of sentinel, hears my pistol fired in any other part of the house, he’ll instantly fire his own, and it’ll be to settle your ladyship on the spot. [or look you, ma’am, if we’re nabbed, we may just as well swing for half a dozen things as for one or two.”’ “ You might have spared all these threats,’’? remarked | Lady Saxondale, still with an extraordinary coolness and presence of mind, ‘‘ because I feel that I am powerless in GOomiGcadooks (SO)