The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR Od fluential connections, I should still be unable to listen favour- ably to any appeal made on his behalf. What, then, can I say to you? With every disposition to attend to the strong and urgent recommendations of my friend the Marquis of Villebelle, with every disposition, too, to serve a young lady of your appearance, I am afraid — ”’ ‘““ No, sir, do not crush me with despair at once. Do not — do not, I entreat you!’ and Kate Marshall fell upon her knees before the minister. ‘““ Rise,” he said, taking her hand; and as she obeyed him, he still continued to hold that hand in his own, while at the same instant an unmistakable expression of passionate desire glowed upon his features. ‘‘ Perhaps,” he went on to observe, ‘“‘a means may be found — ”’ Kate understood him in a moment. It was no longer possible to doubt his meaning; it was conveyed in the significancy of his look, the pressure which she felt her hand was sustaining, his entire appearance. In short, that high public functionary had revealed himself as an unprincipled libertine, about to make an overture which was compre- hended even before it was uttered. Kate snatched away her hand; the flush of indignation glowed upon her features, and she was turning away, when, suddenly smitten by the idea — it was a last faint hope — that she might possibly have mis-. interpreted his meaning and done him an injustice, she fixed her eyes steadily upon his countenance, saying, ‘ Surely, sir, surely you will not suffer me to depart with the con- viction that there is no mercy in the soul of a Spanish states- man.”’ ‘Sit down once more, Miss Marshall,” responded the minister, suddenly becoming cold and haughty. Then, as she resumed her seat, he went on to observe, ‘‘ I explained to you ere now that even if the plea for mercy on behalf of this offender were backed by high family interest, I should not know how to concede the point. You yourself must com- prehend the difficulty of obtaining such a concession. There are no grounds upon which a pardon can be accorded or a commutation of the sentence be decreed. But if 1t would be difficult to yield to an interest really powerful, how can you expect me to give an affirmative answer to the intercession of a stranger? Should I not be seriously compromising myself? Should I not be liable to the attacks of those ill-conditioned CONnNIELDOOKS (FO)