Pelham — CompleteLytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
History
Pelham — Complete
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
Adventure stories; English fiction -- 19th century; Great Britain -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction
I returned home with increased spirits and collected thoughts; I urged
my mind from my own situation, and suffered it to rest upon what Lady
Roseville had told me of Reginald Glanville’s interference in my behalf.
That extraordinary man still continued powerfully to excite my interest;
nor could I dwell, without some yearning of the kindlier affections,
upon his unsolicited, and, but for Lady Roseville’s communication,
unknown exertions in my cause. Although the officers of justice were
still actively employed in the pursuit of Tyrrell’s murderer, and
although the newspapers were still full of speculations on their
indifferent success, public curiosity had began to flag upon the
inquiry. I had, once or twice, been in Glanville’s company when the
murder was brought upon the tapis, and narrowly examined his behaviour
upon a subject which touched him so fearfully. I could not, however,
note any extraordinary confusion or change in his countenance; perhaps
the pale cheek grew somewhat paler, the dreaming eye more abstracted,
and the absent spirit more wandering than before; but many other causes
than guilt, could account for signs so doubtful and minute.
“You shall soon know all,” the last words which he had addressed to me,
yet rang in my ears, and most intensely did I anticipate the fulfilment
of this promise. My hopes too--those flatterers, so often the pleasing
antitheses of reason, whispered that this was not the pledge of a guilty
man; and yet he had said to Lady Roseville, that he did not wonder at
my estrangement from him: such words seemed to require a less favourable
construction than those he had addressed to me; and, in making
this mental remark, another, of no flattering nature to Glanville’s
disinterestedness, suggested itself; might not his interference for me
with Lord Dawton, arise rather from policy than friendship; might it not
occur to him, if, as I surmised, he was acquainted with my suspicions,
and acknowledged their dreadful justice, that it would be advisable
to propitiate my silence? Such were among the thousand thoughts which
flashed across me, and left my speculations in debate and doubt.
Nor did my reflections pass unnoticed the nature of Lady Roseville’s
affection for Glanville. From the seeming coldness and austerity of Sir
Reginald’s temperament, it was likely that this was innocent, at least
in act; and there was also something guileless in the manner in which
she appeared rather to exult in, than to conceal, her attachment. True
that she was bound to no ties; she had neither husband nor children,
for whose sake love became a crime: free and unfettered, if she gave her
heart to Glanville, it was also allowable to render the gift lawful and
perpetual by the blessing of the church.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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