The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER IV THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR KaTE MarsHALL arrived. safely in the Spanish capital, and took up her residence at a modest but respectable tavern to which Count Christoval had directed her amongst other parting instructions which he had given her in Catalonia. One of the principal reasons which he had for recommending her to this hostelry was that the landlady spoke English with tolerable accuracy, and being a good-hearted woman, was certain to afford Miss Marshall all necessary aid and informa- tion. It was night when Kate arrived at Madrid on the day after the examination by the alcalde, and on the following morning she repaired, with the hotel porter as her guide, to the residence of the Marquis of Villebelle. Infinite was her disappointment on learning that this nobleman had left the day before for Paris, in company with tho marchioness, and that they were likely to remain absent for six weeks, even if the marquis should return to that diplomatic post at all, he having the prospect of a higher and more lucrative appoint- ment. This was a terrible blow for poor Kate. She knew not what to do, but dispirited and desponding, she retraced her way to the hostelry. She was not, however, a young woman likely to abandon herself to utter despair, and though seriously afflicted, she summoned all her energies to her aid, that no time should be lost in adopting some specific course. She sat down and wrote two letters, — one to Count Christoval at Barcelona, beseeching his advice, the other to the Marquis of Villebelle, which, at the landlady’s suggestion, she addressed to the care of the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Paris, it being certain that to this functionary Villebelle’s first visit would 30 CONNIE NOOKS (E(0)