The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

‘*Tt would suit me better if you would explain first,” he aid. ‘Well, I will, then. I know that no marriage that can be performed to-night will be legal, because banns must be published on two Sundays. Besides, no mayor would marry masked people. Besides, the woman’s name would have to | be mentioned. Will you walk to the window, or shall 1 carry you?” | «Tf those are your only objections, listen.. The banns have been published as required by law.” ‘How could that be done?” ‘© T was so sure you would accept, that I had your name used.” «JT wish you could realize my great grief that the window is so low.” : «<The mayor has consented to be in attendance and per- form the ceremony, and I have four witnesses all ready. The woman’s name I was going to ask you to shut your ears against, and the mayor has agreed to speak it softly.” ‘Your forethought makes me tremble.” ‘Why?’ : ‘‘ Because I fear you may have laid a feather bed under my window to fall on.” “Oh, come, now, monsieur, have done with jesting. I will reveal the mystery, suppressing only the names.” ‘Do not suppress the names on my account,” interrupted the artist, who took a malicious pleasure in trifling with his strange visitor. . CHAPTER II. A MYSTERIOUS RIDE. “Our family comprises four brothers and a sister.” ‘Four of a kind, queen high!” said Clinton, interrupting. ‘‘We are a noble family, but poor. A wealthy uncle, in dying, left his whole fortune to us equally; to be divided, however, only when dur sister should marry. ‘“‘Our sister, unfortunately, is determined upon going into a convent. ‘She has consented, however, to this marriage, with the understanding that, as soon as it is over, she may go to Austria, there to enter a convent. THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. ee ae eomicbooks.co or ry ~- Vv ; : * mn a | ’