The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR 3g life; the favour you demand is immense, — the greatest the highest which it is in mortal’s power to bestow. And in return you offer a recompense the meanest, the poorest, the paltriest, the most contemptible.” “Oh, sir,” murmured Kate, rising from her seat, and almost convulsed with affliction, ‘‘if the treasures of the whole world were at my disposal, I would lay them at your feet; but, alas! I have not wherewithal to give you such reward as may be commensurate with the boon that I im- plore.”’ ‘Gold? — who spoke of gold?’”’ said the minister, con- temptuously. ‘‘I haveenough. It was not to paltry dross that I fora moment alluded. Were you an old wrinkled hag, and if you were enabled to lay at my feet countless sums of the yellow metal, I should at once return an abrupt negative to your demand. But is there no reward which a young and beautiful woman can bestow? ”’ “ Now, sir, I dare not for another moment seek to blind myself to the true nature of your meaning,’’ and as Kate Marshall thus spoke, her whole appearance indicated the sudden uprising of womanly pride and dignity. ‘ You wield great and almost sovereign power, you have authority of life and death, but your present conduct toward a friend- less foreign woman who implores a boon at your hands is not the finest chapter in your career. He whom I love must perhaps die, and my own heart will be broken, but the time may come when your Excellency will look back with re- morseful sorrow upon the incident of this day, and when perhaps you will regret that you have thus planted a dagger into a bosom already too deeply wounded.” Having thus spoken, Kate Marshall was moving toward the door, when the minister exclaimed, ‘‘ Stop! Perhaps you may yet think better of your own conduct, and then it will be too late. Remember that with one stroke of the pen I can give you the life which you demand, but also with a stroke of the pen I can order it to be taken away within the week that is passing.”’ “But you will not do this deed of cruelty,’ cried Kate, once again having recourse to intercession. ‘’ No, you will not doit. Ah, sir, you are a married man, you have a wite who doubtless loves you —”’ “ It is useless, young lady,’ interrupted the minister, “‘ for GoOmiGcnooks (C©)