The Argosy — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

44 Princess Eleanor. struggled—I suffered in those moments, Geoffrey, more than words can tell. On one side stood Eleanor, my fame, my honour, my name, which I must not allow to be trampled in the dust before Aer—the dreadful fact of being suspected by a man like Prince Ernest—my whole career —all the hope of future happiness. On the other side, naught but the slight nod with which I had given my word ! But all was forgotten before the single thought which grew like a falling avalanche, thundering into my ear: “ On this side stands your duty! Be true to your pledged word!” It was victorious. With my eyes looking frankly into the Prince's —he may have thought this an excess of impudence—with a voice scarcely tremulous, and a proud movement of my hand, as I pointed to the dreadful picture, I said : “The copy is done by me, Prince, but how it came here I know not.” “You confess having made this copy,” the Prince exclaimed in anger, “and will not tell the rest! I will have you arrested, if you do not instantly make a full confession.” “T am quite at your disposal.” Eleanor now slowly approached the Prince; she threw a look of horror upon my face, then prayed her brother with uplifted hands to put an end to the painful scene. “For you I will do it!” he exclaimed. Then, turning to me, he added : “You leave this house instantly. What more I have to say to you, you must hear by letter. Come, Werdan !” I saw him take that rascal’s arm ; saw him motioning to Eleanor to take her godfather’s. As I stood on the threshold of the room, I could not help turning round and sending Eleanor one long look, to assert my innocence to her at-least. She received it with wonder- ing eyes, turned pale, and ere the strong man at her side could catch her, fell insensible to the ground. I had made the first step towards her, but the Prince’s words, as he bent over her, ‘‘ 4// the fault of that villain,” drove me away. Since yesterday, when all this happened, I have heard nothing of either Eleanor or Prince Ernest. Is it not natural, Geoffrey, if I begin to think that my good genius has extinguished his torch, and that power over me is given to the bad spirits of the deep ? I went twice to Werdan’s house yesterday, to demand back my word. Both times the answer was, “Not at home.” This morning, as the servant opened his mouth to say the same thing | again, I pushed him aside and entered the nearest room. comicbooks.com