The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

oe 8 __ESETERIED OVP THE COUR ee MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. which I had ere now spoken to Claude Masson, I faltered out something about a bank-note fora thou- sand francs. That poor but honest woman at once presented me with the note I had lost, and which 1 immediately perceived to be slightly of a different colour from that which M. Masson had placed in my hand. I cannot describe the feelings which seized upon me as I took that note; and it was not until I had observed that the poor woman began to regard me somewhat suspiciously, that I tegained my self-posseasion. Then I placed a liberal reward in her hand—and hurried away. I was struck by the generosity of Claude Masson’s conduct—a generosity too that was blended with 80 much delicacy: for little, doubtless, had he anti- Cipated that the real note which was lost would ever be restored to my hand. But, Oh! to thiak that I now lay under a pecuniary obligation to bim! It would have been humiliating, were it not that there was something in the way in which the No. 66.—FOUR?H SEEIES. 106 transaction took place that prevented me from feeling my pride to be humbled. And, after all, I could restore him the note! But I knew not where he lived ; and I dared not—for my promise’ sake, and with due regard to Claude’s safety— name the incident to my father. What was I to do? I must meet him once again: nay, more—I must purposely throw myself in his way: I must seek an opportunity to encounter him. And I did eo. For three or four days I rambled every- where about the neighbourhood — but without seeing him. At length, one afternoon, we sud- denly met at the angle of yonder grove which you see, my dear Zoe, about half a mile to the right of the village-church. I had flattered myself that I should have been enabled to address him with calmnese and fortitude: but now that the instant for putting me to the test had come, all my eelf- possession abandoned me. I was full of confusion. Claude Maseon took my hand and gased earnestly | ns comicibooks.conm