The Woman in White (Volume 17); A Novel (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1893. Excerpt: ... masquerading in male attire. "Figaro quit Figaro IS Figaro su Figaro giu " sang the Count, jauntily tossing up the concertina at arms-length, and bowing to us, on one side of the instrument, with the airy grace and elegance of Figaro himself at twenty years of age. "Take my word for it, Laura, that man knows something of Sir Percival's embarrassments," I said, as we retutrned the Count's salutation from a safe distance. "What makes you think that?" she asked. "How should he have known, otherwise, that Mr. Merriman waa Sir Percival's solicitor?" I rejoined. "Besides, when I followed you out of the luncheon-room, he told me, without a single word of inquiry on my part, that something had happened. Depend upon it, he knows more than we do." "Don't ask him any questions, if he does. Don't take him into our confidence " "You seem to dislike him, Laura, in a very determined manner. What has he said or done to justify you?" "Nothing, Marian. On the contrary, he was all kindness and attention on our journey home, and he several times checked Sir Percival's outbreaks of temper, in the most considerate manner toward me. Perhaps I dislike him because he has so much more power over my husband than I have. Perhaps it hurts my pride to be under any obligations to his interference. All I know is, that I do dislike him." The rest of the day and evening passed quietly enough. The Count and I played at chess. For the first two games he politely allowed me to conquer him; and then, when he saw that I had found him out, begged my pardon, and, at the third game, checkmated me in ten minutes. Sir Percival never once referred, all through the evening, to the lawyer's visit. But either that event, or something else, had produced a singular alteration for the better in him. He was as polite and agreeable...