The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

THE PREFECT AND His GUESTS 259 into the chamber, whither, however, the marquis did not follow her. But he remained upon the threshold, as if contented to hear the report which might presently be made to him, instead of witnessing with his own eyes the scene itself. Noiselessly and rapidly did Louisa glide into that chamber; but scarcely had she advanced half a dozen paces, when through the gloom which prevailed she beheld a light shining dimly in, as it were, from the depths of some recess. At this moment the prefect took her by the hand, and hurried her forward in the direction where that light seemed to be burning. A few paces more, and Louisa now saw that this heht was really in an adjacent chamber, whence it emanated through an aperture in the partition wall. Close up to this opening did the prefect hurry the affrighted maiden, for affrighted she really was at an appearance of sO sinister a nature, inasmuch as it really seemed at the moment as if through the vista of gloom her eyes were resting upon a light coming from a vaulted sepulchre. But at the same instant that this thought traversed her imagination, a well-known voice struck upon her ear, — ay, struck upon her brain, vibrating down every chord that led even unto her heart’s core; and this voice said, in a tone of impassioned remonstrance, ‘‘ Oh, you will drive me mad, you will drive me mad! ”’ A shriek rose to the very margin of Louisa’s lips, even as a fountain, when disturbed at its depths, bubbles up to the very brim. But the sound was instantaneously stifled and subdued before it burst forth; for an overwhelming sense of utter misery fell crushingly upon the maiden, like an awful consternation, as she heard the melodious tones of a female voice replying, with the fervour of passion, “ Oh, Jocelyn, dear Jocelyn, thou knowest that I love thee!” | Louisa heard no more. The consternation which stifled her scream struck another blow and deprived her of con- sciousness, so that she reeled half-around and fell heavily upon the floor. “Good heavens!’’ exclaimed Jocelyn, from the inner apartment, ‘“‘ what sound was that?” and seizing the light from the table, he sprang toward the aperture. Thrusting the lamp to the entire length of his arm through the opening, its rays fell full upon the countenance of the COnNIEOOOKS (C(O)