The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

72 , REYNOLDS’ WORKS anxiety on her marble countenance, and then flung such deprecating, entreating looks toward her father? But what words can depict the ghastly horror which the countenance of Monsieur Volney himself displayed as he stopped short just outside the threshold of his own chamber? As if transfixed to the spot, he gazed in frightful con- sternation upon this scene. The light which he held in his hand appeared to be illuminating the features of a corpse, so deadly pale was he,—so ashy white were his lips. Zoe was horrified, at the same time that she was too much bewildered for deliberate reflection. All of a sudden it appeared as if Monsieur Volney recov- ered his self-possession, for he advanced slowly toward the spot in front of the chapel doors, and he said, with a — voice, “‘ What means this intrusion here? ”’ i" Let the truth be told, — yes, let it be nnvelanmel at once,” cried he who was supporting in his arms the still inanimate form of Clarine. ‘I love your daughter, Mon- sieur Volney — I adore her. She loves me in return. For Heaven’s sake let your animosity cease toward me! ”’ ‘“She loves you?’”’ exclaimed Monsieur Volney, with a sort of terrific cry that had wildness, horror, and mournful- ness in its accents. ‘“‘ Wretched Clarine! wretched De- lorme!’’ and springing forward, he tore his daughter, as if frantically, from the viscount’s embrace. What a revelation had just been made to Lady Octavian Meredith’s ear! Claude Masson was none other than the Viscount Delorme, and how much that was hitherto mys- terious was now suddenly cleared up! For Clarine’s lover was tall, slender, and symmetrically formed; a glance showed Zoe that over his boots he wore a pair of those list shoes which are common amongst the French peasantry, and hence the noiselessness of his steps as she had seen him pass along the corridor, for that it was he whose appearance had so much alarmed her, she had not now the slightest doubt. We have said that Monsieur Volney tore his inanimate daughter with frenzied violence from the arms of the Vis- count Delorme, and the anguished father was bearing her toward her own chamber, when the young nobleman sprang forward, and catching him by the arm, exclaimed, in a quick, excited tone, ‘‘I know what is uppermost in your CORNICLIIOOKS (E(0)