The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

116 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ceeding you purpose to adopt. Thus is it that you magnify her failings into faults, and, if needful, you would exaggerate her faults into crimes. Come, Jules, be reasonable. You cannot shut out from yourself the conviction that I have spoken truly.” ‘“T confess, my dear Villebelle, that I am much struck by all you have said,’’ responded the viscount, who was now pale and agitated; but then arose before him the image of the brilliantly handsome Augusta Chesterfield, and he hastened to observe, ‘‘ Oh, if you saw her to whom my heart is devoted, you would admit that any sacrifice ought to be made for such a being. She is grandly beautiful. She is a wife, too, who sacrifices husband, family, fame, and all that a woman can possibly hold dear — yes, of all will she make a sacrifice for me.”’ ‘“ And you have informed her, I think you said,”’ observed the marquis, “‘ of the nature and amount of the settlement you purpose to make in regard to her? ”’ “Oh, assuredly,’? was Chateauneuf’s quick rejoinder. ‘She has given me so many proofs of her love that I have been but too anxious to afford her the evidences of my own in return.” ‘““T see, my dear friend,” resumed the Marquis of Villebelle, “that you are under the spell of an infatuation. This you cannot help. We are but weak mortals, and I know what it is to love passionately and devotedly.”’ ‘“ Your own wife? ”’ “Yes, and I am proud to confess it. And, by the bye, loving my wife as I do, feeling that no possible temptation would render me unfaithful to her, much less that I myself could take the initiative in making overtures to any other woman, you will not be astonished or offended at the propo- sition I am about to lay before you, and which you can have no scruple or fear in accepting.”’ ‘““ Speak, my dear friend, what is it?’ said Jules. “JT will tell you. Permit me,’ continued the marquis, ‘to be introduced to this mistress of yours. You can take me to her in my capacity of your best friend, — one who has known you ever since you were eight years old. Will you do this? ”’ “JT shall be proud and happy,” exclaimed the viscount, “and then you will indeed admit that in renouncing my Gomicbooks (E(0)