The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

THE STUDY 23 with some secret care. I do not think it is through the loss of property, as some persons have supposed.”’ ‘Your father, then, has been richer than he now is?” said Lady Octavian, inquiringly. “We used to live at a beautiful country-seat in the neigh- bourhood of Fontainebleau,’’ answered Clarine. ‘‘ It was not large, nor was the annexed estate spacious, but the house was commodious, and very handsomely furnished in a some- what antique style. We had eight or nine servants, for my father kept his carriage then, but still we saw very little company. My father never was fond of mingling with so- ciety, — at least not within my recollection. He was always accustomed to be much alone, and to shut himself up for hours together in his own apartment. I remember too that he always had the habit of taking his long, solitary walks as he does now. These circumstances make me think that it cannot be the loss of property which is preying upon his mind, because he was the same at our beautiful abode near Fontainebleau as he has been ever since we have dwelt in this chateau.”’ ‘“‘ How was it that Monsieur Volney lost his property? ”’ asked Zoe. “T am not even sure that he lost it at all,” replied Clarine; ‘““T only surmise so. It was a little more than five years ago that he one day told me we were going to remove to some other place, and on the very same day a post-chaise bore us off from that beautiful country-seat. Of all the servants old Marguerite alone accompanied us.”’ ‘“ And was the house shut up?” asked Lady Octavian. ‘IT do not know,’ responded Clarine. ‘“ We left it just as it was, with all the other servants in it, but whether my father, previous to our departure, made any arrangement in respect to the house and the domestics, I am unable to say. He has never spoken on the subject, and old Marguerite is really ignorant upon the point, or else she has always pre- tended to be. She nursed me in my infancy, and to a certain extent supplied the place of the mother whom I lost. This is why I love and revere her, and this is also the reason why, when my father is not present, she allows herself to address me in terms of endearing familiarity.”’ “ And from that beautiful country-seat you came direct to this chateau? ”’ said Lady Octavian, interrogatively. CoOnniclooolxs (CO)