Apparently he was a clever lecturer, fluent and full of illustration,
with an air of original theory that caught people's attention. He
knew his ground, and where critically scientific men were near to
bring him to book, was cautious to keep within the required bounds,
but in the freer and less regulated places, he discoursed on new
theories and strange systems connected with the mysteries of
magnetism, and producing extraordinary and unexplained effects.
Robert and Jock were inclined to ascribe to some of these arts the
captivation of so clever a person as their sister, by one whom they
both viewed with repulsion as a mere adventurer.
They had not the clue which their mother had to the history of the
matter, when the next day, though still far from well, she had an
interview with her daughter and the Athenian Professor before their
return to Scotland.
He knew of the Magnum Bonum matter. It seemed that Janet, as her
knowledge increased, had become more sensible of the difficulties in
the pursuit, and being much attracted by his graces and ability, had
so put questions for her own enlightenment as to reveal to him that
she possessed a secret. To cajole it from her, so far as she knew
it, had been no greater difficulty than it was to the fox to get the
cheese from the crow: and while to him she was the errant unprotected
young lady of large and tempting fortune, he could easily make
himself appear to her the missing link in the pursuit.
Pages:
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559