The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

32 REYNOLDS’ WORKS kindest terms, and enclosing a note of the most urgent entreaty to the Minister of the Interior, beseeching that the boon which the bearer thereof might solicit should be granted. The other letter was from Constance, whom we suppose we must call the Marchioness of Villebelle; and this was penned in the warmest and most affectionate strain, assuring Kate that neither herself nor her husband would ever forget the services they had received at her hands when at Dover, and proffering the sincerest sympathy. This letter also contained an enclosure; it was addressed to the wife of the Minister of the Interior, beseeching this lady to espouse the cause of Miss Marshall and to use her influence with her husband to procure the grant of the boon which would be requested. Both these letters — we mean that of the marquis to the minister, and that of the marchioness to the minister’s wife — were written in English, thus proving that those for whom they were intended were conversant with that language, and also serving to convince Kate (they being left unsealed for her perusal) that the cause which she had at heart was espoused in no lukewarm manner by the generous friends whose interest she had thus secured. Miss Marshall arrayed herself in the handsomest garb she had brought with her from England, and indeed she looked uncommonly handsome. Her fine shape, rich in its modelled but well-adjusted proportions, was set off to the best ad- vantage, while the flutter of hope and suspense sent up a carnation hue to her cheeks. When her toilet was completed, she repaired in a hired vehicle to the private residence of the Minister of the Interior, this being about noon, and her kind-hearted landlady informing her that it was the best hour for waiting upon that functionary. On arriving at the minister’s house, Miss Marshall was conducted to a waiting- room, where some half-dozen other persons desirous to see the great man were seated, and each of these was summoned in turn to the reception apartment. At length Kate found herself alone in the waiting-room, and her heart palpitated with still more anxious flutterings than hitherto, as she said to herself that the next time the door opened it would be to admit the usher who was to summon her into the presence of him who with a breath could restore her to perfect happi- ness or plunge her into the deepest abysm of woe. Half an hour elapsed while she thus remained alone, and it appeared CONNIE NOOO KS (E(0)