The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

eer THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. “Why should-I dislike to look the matter squarely in the acer” He did not know. Indeed, he was not conscious that underneath his unwillingness was an undefined dread. But _ there was. “A, G.—Alphonse Gorinot. Well, and may not A. G. _ stand for a thousand other persons? “This A. G. could not stand for Alphonse Gorinot; now be reasonable, and see how absurd such a thought would be.” | Clinton was addressing his mind as if it belonged to some- body else. It was a habit he had fallen into in his lonely artist days. “* Well, if you will have it, say it does stand for Alphonse. - Will you have the folly to suppose that Alphonse and the masked man ‘‘Clinton, Clinton would you dishonor yourself by allow- ing such a thought one moment's rest in your mind? Can you forget that he is Grace’s brother? ‘Out upon you, fiend, that would suggest such a thought. Out—out, I will not listen! Iwill not! I will not!” Once more he was striding furiously along the road, his hands clenched, his jaws set, and his lips convulsively mut- terin sae! will not! I will not!’’. And yet he did. Again he stopped and sat under a tree. ‘‘T will then. Forgive me, Grace, darling.. It is not I. It is the fiend that possesses me. “Well, then, Satan, have your say. Insinuate what you will. But have a care; I will not be driven too far.” | Clinton spoke as if he really believed Satan had possession of his mind. | _ ** Alphonse is the same height, you say? Well, and might not fifty thousand men be the same? | Something in his voice and manner that wakens mem- ory? Bah, you are fanciful. Why did you not think of that before? | | **T did? ““Tdid not. It’s alie. I thought I had seen him be- fore. I knew afterward that it was only an undefined re- semblance to Grace. Feomicbooks:com.