Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Guy Deverell (Volume 2) Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Publisher Marketing: This historic 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. 1865. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. M. Varbarriere orders his Wings. In her own way, with interjections, and commentary and occasional pauses for the sake of respiration, old Lady Alice related the substance of what the Bishop had communicated to her. "And what do you suppose, Monsieur Varbarriere, to have been the contents of that red leather box?" asked Lady Alice. Monsieur Varbarriere smiled mysteriously and nodded. "I fancy, Lady Alice, I have the honour to have arrived at precisely the same conclusion with yourself," said he. "Well, I dare say. You see now what is involved. You understand now why I should be, for his own sake, more than ever grieved that my boy is gone," she said, trembling very much. Monsieur Varbarriere bowed profoundly. "And why it is, sir, that I do insist on your explaining your broken phrase of the other even Monsieur Varbarriere in his deep oak frame stood up tall, portly, and erect. A narrow window, with stained heraldic emblazonry, was partly behind him, and the light from above fell askance on one side of his massive countenance, throwing such dark downward bars of shadow on his face, that Lady Alice could not tell whether he was scowling or smiling, or whether the effect was an illusion. "What phrase, pray, does your ladyship allude to?" he inquired. "You spoke of my boy -- my poor Guy -- as if you knew more of him than you cared to speak -- as if you were on the point of disclosing, and suddenly recollected yourself," replied Lady Alice. "You mean when I had the honour to converse with you the night before last in the drawing-room," said he, a little brusquely, observing that the old lady was becoming vehemently excited. "Yes; when you left me under the impression that you thought my son still living," half screamed Lady Alice, like a woman in...