The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

182 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Mr. Andrews withdrew to the library to write some letters on business, our hero and Miss Vincent now found themselves alone together. “With you, my dear Christian,”’ said the young maiden, ‘“‘T can have no secrets, and yet I am about to speak to you of something which you must keep secret from all the rest of the world — unless, indeed,’ she added, mournfully, ‘‘ you shall be of opinion that another course ought to be adopted; in which case I shall be influenced entirely by you. Oh, it is a dreadful subject, and I hope, dear Chris- tian, I hope that you will decide in favour of keeping the secret.” ‘Good heavens, my dearest Isabella! ’’ exclaimed our hero, astonished and even frightened, for he saw how very pale his beloved became; “ what terrible topic is this to which you allude, which you approach with so much diffi- dence, and over which you are so anxious that the veil of secrecy shall be thrown? ”’ ‘* Alas, dear Christian, it is indeed a very painful topic,” re- joined Isabella, ‘ but I will not keep you any longer in suspense. You know how my poor uncle died — ”’ “Good God!” ejaculated our hero; “ does it allude to his most shocking, horrible murder? ”’ ‘Tt does, — alas, it does indeed!’ replied Miss Vincent. “And you will be astonished — you will be startled, ay, and horrified, too —when I speak of the hideous, frightful mystery, which does not appear to be altogether a mystery, for they accuse each other — ” “They! Who, dearest Isabella? ’’ asked Christian, in the consternation of suspense. ‘“Who?” echoed the young maiden. ‘ Oh, that I should have to tell you that the countess and Adolphus, — my aunt and my cousin — ”’ ‘Impossible, Isabella,’”’? exclaimed Christian. ‘‘ What? the beautiful Ethel, so amiable and so kind, and the generous-. hearted Adolphus, who conducted himself so handsomely in favouring our own interviews — ”’ ‘“‘ Alas! it is as I tell you, my dear Christian,”’ responded Isabella, in a tone of the deepest dejection, and with a visible shudder passing through her entire form. ‘ Accident one day rendered me a listener to a few words which passed between them. I was entering the red drawing-room, — EORMIELIOO KS (E(0)