The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

/ THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR 31 be paid on his arrival in the French capital; and as he was not likely to travel day and night without intermission, the letter would in all probability reach its destination before him. On the following day Kate had the satisfaction of receiv- ing a letter from Don Christoval at Barcelona, written, how- ever, before he could of course have received hers. It was to the effect that he had completely succeeded with the captain-general in procuring a respite for Edward Russell until the result of her proceedings on her lover’s behalf should be made known. Don Diego moreover informed Kate that the captain-general was vested with sufficient authority to extend this respite for three weeks, which he had no doubt would be done; and therefore the count expressed a hope that in the interval Miss Marshall would find her endeavours crowned with complete success. The intelligence thus conveyed in Count Christoval’s letter was satisfactory even beyond her hopes, under present circumstances, for there was ample leisure in the meantime for the Marquis of Villebelle to interest himself in her lover’s behalf. She felt assured that he would do so, and she awaited in confidence the arrival of letters from that nobleman in due course. But before any came, she received another communication from Don Diego Christoval, in answer to her own. It was to the effect that he himself possessed not the slightest interest with the ministers then in power, their politics and his being at extreme variance; otherwise he would have before volunteered to exert himself in those quarters. He gave Kate to understand that if he were thus to take up her cause, such a step would only prejudice it and lead to a cer- tain refusal. It was therefore useless for him to make the attempt; while, on the other hand, it was of the highest consequence that he should remain at Barcelona in order to prevent the captain-general from signing the warrant of execution until the full period of respite which he was en- abled to grant should have elapsed. The count’s letter, which was penned in a strain of true brotherly sympathy, concluded by encouraging such hope as he dared hold out, and proffering such condolence as it was proper for him to express. A few days afterward, Kate received letters from Paris. One was from the Marquis of Villebelle, couched in the CONNIE DOOKS (E©)