The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

112 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ~.- the Viscount de Chateauneuf into the conservatory, and for some little time they were engaged in examining the exoties and the fruits of the palm, the banana, the citron, and the orange-trees. ‘My dear viscount,” said the marquis, when the inspec- tion was concluded, “‘ you and I have known each other since our boyhood, and though there has been an interval of some years since last we saw each other, yet is the friendly feeling of other times in no way diminished on my part.” ‘ Nor on mine, my dear Villebelle,’ responded Chateau- neuf, warmly grasping the hand of the marquis. ‘““T am sure of it,’? resumed the latter; ‘‘ and therefore you will not think it strange or impertinent that I am about to speak to you on a certain subject. In a word, my dear friend, you are not happy, and if there be any circumstance in which you require the counsel or consolation of one who experiences a sincere regard for you —”’ | ‘“ But wherefore, Villebelle,’ interrupted the viscount, “do you think that I am unhappy? ”’ ‘“T know it,’ was the response given by the marquis. ‘ When I met you the other day in company with the vis- countess, — although we were only a brief ten minutes together, —I nevertheless saw that you had moments of abstraction, and that your mind seemed to be wandering to other subjects far different from those which had arisen in conversation. After we separated, my wife observed to me that she thought you had something darkening your soul. To-day, my dear Chateauneuf, I have observed the same manner on your part. My experiences of the world have been somewhat severe, and its teachings have enabled me to catch at a glance the slightest evidences of unhappiness in those with whom I come in contact. Think not for a moment that I seek to penetrate through mere impertinent curiosity into your affairs; but there have been times in my life when I should have hailed the counsel and the solace of a true and sincere friend as something as welcome as an angel visit. lam your friend, Chateauneuf, and that is the reason I am thus speaking.” The viscount bent down his eyes, and reflected profoundly | for more than a minute. He was too intelligent not to be perfectly aware how very serious a step he had resolved to take in renouncing his wife for the sake of Mrs. Chesterfield; Gomicbooks (E(@)