The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XI THE EXPERIMENT THE Marquis and Marchioness of Villebelle were staying at a hotel in the fashionable quarter of the Place Vendome, for inasmuch as their residence in Paris was but temporary, they had not, of course, thought it worth their while to take a house for themselves, or go into furnished apartments. We must now look into the room where they were seated at breakfast, on the morning'after the party at the Viscount de Chateauneut’s mansion. Constance was in an elegant déshabillé, which set off her beauty: to a most fascinating advantage. The marquis was in a handsome robe-de-chambre, confined at his waist with a silken cord, having large tassels at the ends. Despatches were lying upon the table, addressed to “‘ His Excellency the marquis of Villebelle, Minister- Plenipotentiary to the Court of his Majesty the King of Naples,’ but these were merely to furnish him with some instructions which he was to send off to the chargé d’affaires in the Neapolitan capital, and not to abridge the leave of absence which he had obtained on his appointment to his new post. ) ‘“ And so, my dear Constance,” said the marquis, are pleased with the Viscountess de Chateauneuf? ”’ “YT lke her much,” was the young lady’s response, “ but I am afraid that she is not altogether happy, for there are moments when she wears a transient expression of sadness. And the viscount, too — there is decidedly something upon his mind — ”’ “T know it all, my dear Constance,’ interrupted the marquis. ‘‘ But do not question me now. I will tell you everything in the course of the afternoon, for I am going to try an experiment, which will probably result — or, at least, 118 (E(0) CONNIE OO KS