The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 125: what you’re looking at

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114 secret. I have not shrunk from trusting you with it: I know that you will not betray me. It was a vengeance which I wreaked; and though before I perpetrated the deed I considered myself jus- tified in seeking the deadliest revenge for my out- raged honour and my wrecked happiness—though all the world too would hold that I was thus justified—yet frankly do I confess that my ocon- science has reproached me ever since the moment that I stood a murderer amidst that wild Alpine scenery! Nevertheless, I repeat, { know that you will not betray me. But let me continue——I have only a few more words fo say. I took from the person of the Viscoun$ whatsoever papers might prove his identity; and I dragged the corpse to a spot where [ saw that the drifting snow was accumulating fast, In a few minutes the body of the Visgount was completely enveloped in the winding-sheet which vature’s head wove in countless ‘myriada of fakes ground jane J knew that my secret was safy. And eo it proved. Several yeare elapsed ere the oorpsd wae disin- terred from ite mausoleum of snow by one of the dogs of the Hospice; gnd several more years elapsed ere the Marchioness and Alfred were led to the elucidation of the lost Viscount’, fate. Alfred came to me at Fontainebleau te report the discovery—to entreat my furgiveness towards his father’s memory—and to beseech that these might be reconciliation between the two families; for he said that if I received him With rancour, he should feel as if hig father’s sins were being visited anathematisingly upon piaself, J] saw that the young men suspected not bis sire bed met hie death otherwise then by an acgiden§ which often overtakes travellors amidst the Alpine mountains ; —but yet J was alarmed! Qunscience, Lady Octavian,” added M. Vulney ip @ gujewn fone, “ makes cowards of us all [” There was another brief peusee—& pause which Zoe could not interrupt; for she ae stil) ¢ prey to almost overwhelming feelings: but the French gentlemen soon continued ia the following strain :— “I refused to give the hand of friendship to Alfred Delorme. It was not, Lady Octavian, be- cause | in reality visited upon himeelf the sins of his father: it was because 1 could not bear the idea of meeting, much less encouraging the visite of one whose presence would cuntinuously remind me that his mre bad met bis death at my head. And then too, the horrible suspicion existed in my mind that the same blood which flowed in the veins of Alfred Delorme might also flow in the veins of Clarine; and I recoiled in consternation from the idea that is was possible for them to be- eome enamoured of each other. Thus, in order to rid myself of Alfred Delormo—ia the hope of pre- venting him from seeking me out for the future— I roughly and rudely repelled his conciliatory over- tures. I assumed the air and speech of vindictive- ness: [ sent him away saddened and dejected. And then [ lost no time in abandoning my home and taking Clarine with me—it being my inten- tion to bury ourselves in some deep sulitude. It was amungst the Pyrenean regions or the wilds of Catalonia thet J thought of settling our futare abode: but on reaching the adjacent village and on bebolding this Chateau, I conceived the place and neighbourhood to be sufficiently suited for my THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. purpose. It has however pleased heaven to direct the footsteps of Alfred Delorme hither; and that which I had done so much to avoid—that which [ have so much striven to prevent, has taken place. They have met—and they love each other !” There was another brief pause: and then M. Volney concluded thus :— “One tremendous barrier has been broken down : it ceases to exief. That letter, which Alfred Delorme must doubtless have found amongst his deceased father’s papers, when taking possession of his ancestral home—or which might have been in possession of the Marchioness who so tenderly reared him—hss conviaced me that my wife be- came not completely criminal until after the birth of Clarine. Tha barrier therefore is destroyed. But how can J reeugnise Alfred Delorme as my eon- in-law P—how ean J extend the hand of friendship towards him—that hand which took his father’s life! Counsel—gdvise ma, Lady Octavian. I pledge myself to fulfil your jujunotions, whatever they may be! But es for that terrible secret of mine ” “It is M. Volney—it is safe with me,” replied Zoe, in @ low voice of deep solemnity. és Foy will wot expect me to offer any comment upon that favrible portion of your narrative. Bat in respect to Ciarinea—in respect to the Viscount—I can have ag bes}tgtion in offering an opinion. If you insist upoy severing them, you will be sacri- ficing their happiness to the sense of 7 : “IT understand yoy, Lady Octavian!” said M. Volnez: “to the eanse of my own guilt! Yes, yea—tt isso! 1 must noé be selfish | “ Mo, M. Valney,” observed Lady Octavian im- pressively; “there must be the completest self- abnegation on your part——” : “ Phere shali be—there shall be!” responded the French genjleman. “ Puor Claring! she has already been mede too much the victim of my own wretched destiny |” He rose from his seat, and paced the room for a few jnstents with agitated steps: his form was bowed—he looked ten years older than he had egemed on the preceding day. “ Yes—they shall be united !” he said, suddenly stopping short in front of Lady Octavian. “ Hasten and convey, this intelligence to Clarine. The bridal shall take place soon; and afterwards — afterwards,” added M. Volney, “I wili seek some foreign country—there to dwell for the remainder of my life!” Zve could not help compassionsting the un. happy man whose crime had arisen frum a sense of deepest wrong; and when she issued from his presence, she felt that the tears were streaming down her cheeks. Having composed her feelinge somewhat, she sped to Clarine’s chamber; and to that young lady did she impart the happy intelii- gence which she had to conrey. We need scarcely add that Zoe respected M. Voiney’s secret, terribie though it were. Joy—indesecribable joy expanded upon Clarine’s countenance: the sense of indispo- sition vanished ; and she hastened to apparel her- self that she might welcome her jover whea he should come, according to appointment, to learn LOOOLK