The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

. THE GALLERY IN THE CHATEAU vig through motives of delicacy. But if, on the other hand, I can be of the slightest service —”’ | ‘You can! you can!”’ interjected Monsieur Volney, with hasty emphasis. ‘‘ Perhaps it may be as well to mention,” said Zoe, ‘‘ that I am already partially the confidante of my friend Clarine. This very morning was she telling me the history of her ac- quaintance and her love for him.-whom she then mentioned as Claude Masson, and whom [ have this evening for the first time known to be the Viscount Delorme.”’ ‘‘ And you will have known everything, dearest Zoe,’’ said Clarine, gently, “ had we not been interrupted. But, my dear father,” she continued, turning toward her parent, “with all candour and frankness will I now reveal every- thing that has taken place. Yet you will chide me — ”’ ‘No, I will not chide you, Clarine,”’ said Monsieur Volney, ‘“‘ for there was only too much truth in your words when you declared that I had left you so continuously to your own pursuits.” “Think not for an instant that I intended it as a reproach,” exclaimed Clarine, earnestly. ‘““ No, no, I took it not as such,’’ answered Monsieur Volney, with kindness; ‘‘ it was the ingenuous plea on your own be- half which would naturally flow from your lips under such circumstances.”’ Having thus spoken, Monsieur Volney sat down with the air of one who intended to listen patiently to a narrative which he had asked for. Clarine and Zoe likewise seated themselves, and then the former commenced her explana- tions. She recited everything she had already stated to Lady Octavian in respect to the incidents which had first thrown her in the way of him who had passed himself off as Claude Masson, and she then continued the thread of her history in the following manner: “You, my dear Zoe, arrived at the chateau some few weeks back, and we speedily became intimate together. You were the companion of my walks; there was no oppor- tunity for me any longer to meet him whom I loved. During this interruption of my intercourse with him, the idea would often steal into my mind that it was perhaps all for the best, and that Heaven itself had sent you hither to check me in a career of imprudence with regard to myself and of deceit ECORnNICLOOOKS (CO)