The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

286 that I had not long to remain in this world! Indeed, Octavian, for your sake I wished that death would come speedily—and I cared not how speedily! But yesterday the skill of a physician enabled him to ascertain that all my forebodings were erroneous.” “ Heaven be thanked !” cried Meredith: and it was indeed with sincerity that he gave vent to this ejaculation. “Yes, heaven be thanked !—for, Oh, my beloved Zoe | it is happiness to know that you will live long in order that the atonement of your contrite husband may bé all the more com- plete. Ah! think you that I have not compre- hended all the sacrifices which you in your sublime magnanimity were making on my behalf? Yes— I have been a wretch towards you———"” “Speak not thus, my dearest, dearest husband,” interrupted Lady Octavian: “there was nothing that I would not have done to ensure your happi- ness |—there was no sacrifice of my own feeling that I would not have made in order ts save you from being unhappy! But tell me, Octaviar-—” ¢€ Yoo, I will tell you everything,” exclaimed thé young nobleman. “ Yet in so doing I must men- tion a name——” «JT know it,” said bis wife firmly,—*“ the name of Christina Ashton. But heaven forbid, Octavian, that you should have to tell me aught which may henceforth prevent me from regarding her as my friend ” “ Zoe,” responded the young nobleman, “ if she were not virtuous I should not dare to look you in the face——I should not be worthy of this pardon which you have bestowed upon me! Christina loves another——” “ She loves another ?”’ cried Zoe, with a thrill of joy in ber soul. “Is it possible that I have all ulong been mistaken as to the nature of her feel- ings towards you-———” “ Suffice it to say, Zoe,{ interrupted Meredith, “she loves another! Of this I have received the most incontestable proof. It aroused me from my delusion--it awoke me with a sudden atart from my dream——-I beheld all the enormity of eay conduct towards yourself—I set:off to join you in France—I lost not an inetant—I waa resolved to throw myeelf at your feet and implore your pardon for the past! For, Oh! I knew that you loved me, Zoe—and 1 despaired not of ‘obtaining that don !” Oh, it is granted—it is granted !"” exclaimed the bappy wife : “ and henceforth, Octavian, you need never entertain a remorseful thought nor cherish a mournful memory on account of the incidents which are gone by !” “ Admirable Zoe {” exclaimed Meredith ; “ how eould I ever have been vile and base enough to do violence to a heart so loving and tender as your's? But I repeat, the remainder of my life shall be devoted to the duty of insuring your hap- piness ;—and, Oh! that duty“will bé a pleasant one!. But tell me, Zoe—how is it that you are here ? Has the bridal already taken place? and aré you accompanying the bridal party P” «© Yea it is so,” responded Zoe: and then, with a look of surprise, she asked, “ But how did you lear that the marriage was fixed for to-day f—be- cave you must have left London before my last letter, which was only written a few days ago, eould possibly have reached you.” “True, Zoe,” answered Octavian: “ but it was from another source that I accidentally heard of the bridal that was fixed for to-day. And now that I find you here, and recollect having seen the travelling-carriages in front of the hotel-—” Your conjectures are right,” said Lady Octa- vian ; “I am accompanying the bridal party. This morning my beloved friend Clarine has become the bride of Viscount Delorme.” “ And who accompanies the happy psir in ad- dition to yourself ?”” asked Meredith. “The firet carriage is occupied by that happy pair and myself,” responded Zoe. “The other carriage is for the accommodation of ‘the notary who drew up the marriage-contracts according to the French form, and who witb his wife came all the way from Fontainebleau to be present at the ceremony; for they have known the Viscount Delorme fur some years and are much attached to him. And in that same second carriage a friend of Alfred ‘Delorme’s travels with the notary and hie wife. He is the Baron de Margaux: he was invited to attend the hridal—and he came, though be arrived late. The bridesmaids were the daughters of a gentleman dwelling in the neigh- bourhood of the old Chateau; and it was the worthy priest of the village who prooured their assistance on the occasien. They of course re- turned to their home afteg, the ceremony. As for M. Volney, the bride’s father,—he remains at the Chateau for the present But you seem to be musing, my dear husband P” “TI was thinking how my presence might inter- fere with the arrangements you had previously made. From your letters I have been enabled to judge how great is the friendship which has sprung up between the Viscountess Delorme and yourself : you havo doubtless promised to remain with her for the present—she will be disappointed if you be separated from her-———” “ And why should I be separated P” askdéd Zoe. “Ob, you, my dear Octavian, will be truly,welcome amongst this bridal party; and you know not how rejoiced will the amiable Olarine prove at our re- union. You will not be angry with me, Octavian, if I confess that I made her my confidante——” “TY can be angry with you for nothing! Bus think you that I dare intrude myself———" ‘T¢ will be no intrusion,” exclaimed Zoe; “and well convinced am I that the Viscount De- lorme will most cheerfully invite you to be of the party and offer you a seat in one of the carriages. Come at once!—for our halt was not to be long here———-we were told that it might be haif-an- hour, in consequence of some little delay with re- gard to the post-horses———" ‘‘Qne word more, Zoe!” said Octavian. “A terrible crime was ted last night—=a crime of which I was nearly being rendered the victim ee | * Good heavens, is it possible P’—-and Zoe clung - to her husband as if she feared that it was possible for him eyen now to be snatched from her. He related the particulars of the tragedy in ail their details; and his wife listened with shuddering horror. Wor some minutes more they remained alone together in that room, in deep versation ; and then tt nanan cee THD MYETRERIES OF THE COURT. i. ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)