The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

74 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Volney a paper which he had hastily drawn forth from a pocketbook, and then he turned toward Clarine who was now regaining some little command over her own feelings, — thanks to the kind and encouraging words that Zoe was murmuring in her ears. “Oh, Alfred, dearest Alfred,’’ whispered Clarine to her lover, ‘‘ how could you possibly have been guilty of this im- prudence after the letter which I wrote you declaring that we must separate for ever? ”’ ‘And think you that I could consent thus to separate? ”’ responded the viscount, in that low voice of tenderness which likewise being half-reproachful was sufficient to convince Zoe of the depth and sincerity of the love that he entertained for her friend Clarine. ‘‘ Why did I again seek an interview with you? It was to assure you of the existence of a proof that your father’s fearful suspicion is utterly unfounded, and that proof is now in the hands of Monsieur Volney. Behold — he is reading it! ”’ Monsieur Volney had his back turned toward his daughter, the viscount, and Zoe; he was bending down toward the chamber light which he had placed upon the drawing-room table; he was holding the open letter in his hand, but what- soever feelings might be depicted upon his countenance could not be discerned by those from whom that countenance was thus averted. Zoe comprehended full well that the letter which the Viscount Delorme had placed in Monsieur Volney’s hands contained some proof that he might with certitude © regard Clarine as his own daughter and not the offspring of her mother’s illicit amour with the late viscount. She com- prehended likewise that a proper delicacy of feeling had pre- vented Alfred Delorme from being more explicit in his whis- pered assurances to Clarine relative to the precise nature of that document. . ‘““God be at least thanked for this! ’’ was the ejaculation which suddenly burst from Monsieur Volney’s lips, and hastening toward Clarine, he folded her in his arms. The young lady — perfectly well comprehending that her father was convinced by the weight of the evidence, whatso- ever it were, that the letter contained — wound her arms about his neck and sobbed and wept upon his breast. But she sobbed and wept for joy at the thought that the hideous suspicion which her sire had entertained in respect to herself CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)