The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

MONSIEUR VOLNEY og very bottom. Though stricken in years, — indeed bordering upon sixty,— she resolved for Alfred’s sake to take this step. I am now speaking of a date between six and seven years back. The marchioness, in consequence of the intelligence to which I have just referred, resolved to undertake a journey into Switzerland. Alfred Delorme went with her. In due time they reached the Hospice of Mount St. Bernard, for this was their destination. There the marchioness in- stituted the inquiries for which purpose she had dared a journey so perilous, and so trying for one of her years. The intelligence she had received in France was completely correct; the fate of the Viscount Delorme was cleared up, it ceased to be a mystery.” ‘‘ And that fate? ”’ said Zoe, with a half-hushed voice of suspense, for she experienced the liveliest interest in the narrative to which she was listening. ‘“ It appears,’’ continued Clarine, “ that when the Viscount Delorme fled from Fontainebleau, in order to avoid my father’s vengeance, he was attended by only one domestic, a faithful valet who had been for some time in his service. Having before been in Italy, the viscount determined to return to that country. On arriving at the village of Mar- tigny in the valley which is overlooked by the towering heights of Mount St. Bernard, the valet was taken danger- ously ill, and whether it were through an ungrateful reck- lessness for the man’s fidelity, or whether it were for any other reason, I cannot tell you, but certain it is that the Viscount Delorme left him there amidst strangers, bidding him follow on to Naples if he should happen to recover. The valet did recover, after a long and painful illness, and he proceeded to Naples. But there he could hear no tidings of his master. He returned to France, repaired to Fontaine- bleau, thence to the estate to which the marchioness had removed, but still without learning aught of the Viscount Delorme. He therefore engaged himself in the service of another family, and many years then passed away. At length — about seven years ago — this valet was in the ser- vice of a family who proposed to visit Switzerland, and thence pass into Italy. A part of their plan was to cross Mount St. Bernard. They arrived in safety at the hospice, where they were received with the welcome which the good monks of that Alpine asylum are accustomed to show to all CoOnniclooolkxs (CO)