The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VIII THE ALPINE TRAGEDY It was after breakfast on the following morning — a meal, however, at which Clarine was not present, and of which neither Monsieur Volney nor Zoe scarcely partook — that he requested her ladyship to join him presently in his study, as he wished to speak to her on matters of the utmost import- ance. Zoe hastened first of all to see whether her ministra- tions were required by Clarine, who was ill in bed, and in about a quarter of an hour she repaired to the study. She found Monsieur Volney pacing to and fro, not with a visible excitement and agitation, but in a slow, solemn manner, and with a deep dejection of the looks. He placed a chair for Lady Octavian’s accommodation; he then sat down at his desk, and he said, in a mournful voice, ‘‘ How fares my daughter now? ”’ ‘‘ My opinion is still the same, Monsieur Volney,’’ answered Zoe. ‘‘ As I told you the instant we met at the breakfast- table, Clarine has received a shock which she will never recover, unless joyous intelligence be speedily conveyed to her. She will die of a broken heart, Monsieur Volney, for all her happiness is centred in her love for Alfred Delorme.’’ The pallor which already overspread the French gentle- man’s countenance deepened into ghastliness; it was a pale- ness like that of the dead; it appeared as if all the vital blood had suddenly quitted his body. Even his lips became ashy white; a fearful struggle was evidently taking place within him. In a few moments he rose from his seat, opened the door of the study, and looked forth into the passage with which it communicated. Satisfied that no one was there, he closed the outer door carefully; then he shut an inner 84 ECORNIECLIOOKS (E(0)