The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

8 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “IT know not how I can persevere in beseeching your Excellency to grant me the boon I solicit,’ resumed Don Diego, “‘ but nevertheless, I am emboldened to be thus urgent because I have before me the image of the young woman who said so emphatically that his death would be her death likewise.”’ “And you tell me, count,’’ said the captain-general, evidently deliberating within himself, “ that this young woman feels confident of being enabled to enlist the interest of the French Embassy on behalf of the prisoner? ”’ “T have the positive certainty that she will thus far succeed,’ responded Christoval. ‘‘ Therefore again do I conjure your Excellency to adopt a merciful view.”’ The captain-general paced to and fro in the spacious apart- ment for several minutes, and at length stopping short, he said, ‘‘ Count Christoval, I grant vour request. I will order the execution of the sentence to be suspended. Do you wish to see the prisoner? If so, vou shall yourself convey to him the announcement that he is respited for the present, that is to say, until the result of an appeal which is being made on his behalf at Madrid can be known in Barcelona.” “T thank your Excellency for this additional proof of kindness,’”’ answered Christoval, ‘‘ and I will lose no time in visiting the prisoner.” The captain-general furnished Don Diego with the neces- sary authority to see Russell, and the count proceeded at once to the gaol in which the prisoner was incarcerated. He was escorted by a turnkey to the massively built dungeon where Kate’s lover, heavily ironed, was seated in gloomy reflection. The unhappy man had heard his death-sentence pronounced; he saw not the slightest hope of escape from the dreadful doom thus decreed. But it was not that he feared to die on his own account; he knew that his limbs would not tremble nor his nerves quiver when ascending the ladder of the scaffold. It was on behalf of Kate, handsome and well-beloved Kate, once so gay and mirthful, that he was thus deeply desponding. He was, as she had described him, a fine, handsome fellow, somewhat coarse-featured, it is true, but with the frank, open, honest look of an English sailor, and with a form the manly symmetry of which was not even concealed by the loose apparel that he wore. He was accustomed, on board his vessel, to wear the simple habili- COMNICLOOOLKS,(E0)