The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 237: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. CHAPTER CXXVIIL THE STBTHOSOOPE. Ws must now retarn to that Chateau in the south of France, where Lady Octavian Meredith had for some while been Staying with M. Volney anid his daughter Clarine. The reader will not for- gotten the many ex incidents which were revealed to Zoe’s knowledge at that Chateau, —-how M. Volney had, long years back, amidst the wild sublimities of Alpine scenery, the life of the author of his dishonour—ang@ how Alfred Delorme, the son of that murdered victim, had been led by a variety of circumstances to bestow his love upon Clarine. It was through Zog¢s represente- tions, be it likewise remembered, slat M. Voiney | had finally assented to the uniog ‘of bis with the young Viscount Delorme: but he regotved that immediately after the pridal he would repair to some far-off spot,—there to bury himeelf and I} his sorrows, as well as temorse, for the re- mainder of his exis M. Volney’s dreadful secret communicated : Ciatine remained in perfect ignorance of the stupendous crime that aa¢ upon her father’s soy}: while Alfred Delarme was equally far from puspecting that the father of her whom he loved and wooed, was his own deceased sire’s On the nigbt ited Deiorae’s presence in the Chatedu night wig ieee hed penstrated thither ina fit of atter desperation, to obtain an interview with Clarine that he might ‘Induce her to revoke the decision she had conveyed to him in the letter she had pemhed to old ’s dio- tation. Hoe was in a state & mind which forbade the exereise of the prudence-end caution previously observed in his stealthy visite to the chateau ; and thus was his presence detected. Bat, after all, the incident was a fortunate one, inasmuch as it brought about the denduement we have already described ; and on the morning after that eventful night, Alfred Delorme repaired to the chateau to learn M. Volney’s decision. It wae given; and he beheld himself the acknowledged suitor for the hand of Clarine. M. Volney proposed that the bridal should be celebrated with the least delay; and this was a proposition to which the young couple were by no means likely to offer any objection. . A fortnight passed ; and Alfred Delorme was a daily visitor at the Chateau. M. Volney had s difficult as' well as painful part to play. Zoe-com- prehended it.: she could not help him— but she regarded it as a portion of that chastise- ment which heaven decreed that he should expe- rience in this world for the crime he had ecom- mitted. In order to avoid the suspicion that he any longer objected to the marriage of his daugh- ter with that young nobleman—in order likewise to avoid throwing a damp upon the spirits of the loving couple—M. Volney forced himself to be frequently in their society; eo that he was now more in the sitting-room and less in his own study than was his wont at any daring his residence at the Chateau. But what efforts it cost him to look Alfred Delorme calmly in the face—to meet the looks of him whom his own hand had rendered fatherlees ! Bot bo Zee oy Set A fortnight had passed, we said—and it was now the eve of the day fixed for the bridal. This was to be solemnized with comparative privacy; and after the ceremony the Viscount was to bear his bride away to his own ial mansion in the neighbourhood of Fontainebleau. To Zoe only had M. one spoken of his own intentions—- namely, to to some distant and retired spot, where he might dwell for the remainder of his existence. Clarine and the Viscount thought that he purposed to continue at the Chatean ; and they entertained the hope that in process of time he would return to his own seat, also in the vicinage of Fon eau. As for Zoe herself,—she had te agompany her friend Clarine and the Viscount tatheiz future home, and there to remain with for a few weeks, until she should have chateau that you'wil encdineg sumptuous mansigg-———"” 7 “And you will :accompeny yae thither, my dearest friend!” @#id the le | friend Zoe had borne her suddenly upon the froa- tier of delicate “Until a chan takes place in my own position, you would say?” obecrved Ledy Octavian, in ac- cents of mildest melancholy. “If you mean, dear Clarine, that happiness with my husband yet awaits wpe in thig world, .you are mistaken———Oh, you are mistdken! bd only change to which [ now look forward, is that-which the hand of death itself must accomplish.” “ Speak not thus, my beloved friend!” exclaimed Clarine, the tears trickling down her cheeks: “ you know not how it afflicts me to listen to these mournful presentiments from your lips. You are eo mild and resigned———” “ Yes—resigned,” observed Zoe, “ because with Christian fortitude can I look my destiny in the “If you were to give wey fo lamentations and repinings, and to ve sniend esata,” continued Clarine, “they would not have upon me the same effect which this mild placid melancholy of your’s produces. Oh! believe me, dearest Zoo, I feel COMME HOG cS) (CO