The Argosy, Vol. 13

# Within the Maze

This is Chapter VIII of "Within the Maze," serialized in The Argosy (March 1, 1872), by the author of East Lynne. Sir Karl Andinnian, grieving over his brother Adam's death and his separation from Lucy Cleeve, wanders Paris on New Year's Day. He glimpses Lucy—now thin and ill—with her mother on the Champs Élysées, but honors a prior agreement with Colonel Cleeve not to approach her. Learning from Lucy's former nurse Aglaé that Lucy is dying of heartbreak, Karl writes to Colonel Cleeve proposing marriage and detailing his financial circumstances. The Colonel, initially bound by honor not to give Lucy to Karl while his criminal brother lived, now sees the proposal as Lucy's only hope. The following morning, Colonel Cleeve meets Karl, acknowledging the attachment between them and agreeing to the union, though stipulating that Karl's brother's disgrace prevented such a match while the brother lived.