The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

FATHER AND DAUGHTER 13 cles that Finette had packed together ere leaving the house. ‘It is a bottle of wine which I have purchased for our refreshment,’ responded Finette, ‘“‘ for I knew not whether we should have to journey on foot — ”’ “Nothing could come more acceptably,’’ exclaimed De Margaux, “for I am suffocating with thirst.’’ ‘Oh, how glad I am,” cried Finette, with an expression of joy upon her countenance, “ that I should have had this forethought! ”’ Thus speaking, she took out the bottle from the basket, and handed it to De Margaux. “T am afraid it is only poor wine,” anand Finette, “for I did not like to be too extravagant.” “ Right, dear girl,’ said De Margaux. ‘I have no doubt it will be good enough for me to celebrate in a long draught this happy meeting which has restored us to each other.”’ With these words De Margaux applied the bottle to his lips, and being in reality sore athirst at the time, he imbibed a considerable quantity. Finette watched him with a singular expression of countenance, eager suspense being mingled with terror, until all in a moment the bottle fell from his hand, and the remainder of its contents poured forth upon the grass. Finette sprang up to her feet, and darted back a few paces as if. to place herself at such a distance that the villain should not be enabled to do her a mischief. A fiendlike expression suddenly took posses- sion of his countenance; he strove to rise from the bank, but he could not, and with the words, ‘“‘ Wretch! treachery! ”’ upon his lips, he sank helplessly back against a tree. ‘‘ Ah, it 1s the lesson which you taught me!” exclaimed Finette, and then she cried out, ‘‘ Father, father, come! ”’ In a few moments the rapid. approach of some one through the wood reached the damsel’s ears, and her sire was quickly upon the spot. He beheld an unconscious form lying upon the bank; the first idea which struck him was that the man was dead, and with a look full of horrified alarm, he glanced toward his daughter. “He is not dead, father,” said Finette; ‘‘ he is only as that sentinel was the other night on the verge of the moat. The lesson he has taught me —’”’ “ What, Finette? ”’ ejaculated her father, as a light flashed GomiilGaooks (S©@)