The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

- ‘THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. 193 With one hand he snatched the knife from the wound, and with the other caught Tete-de-Fer by the throat. Elise fell dying on the floor. - Tete-de-Fer fell by her side, pierced to the heart. Clinton tenderly lifted the dying woman’s head. She smiled up at him. **T loved you, didn’t I?” she murmured. Tears rolled down the stern face of the hard man, as he nodded yes. ‘*Will you kiss me now. Iam dying, you know?” | He leaned over her and pressed a kiss upon her lips. She smiled. | She was dead. CHAPTER LY. A PART OF THE SAME STORY. ‘*Ts she dead?” It was a whisper-from Alphonse. “ Yes.” ‘* He, too?” “¢ Yes.” ‘¢T am dying.” ; Clinton looked coldly at him. ‘Tt is the best thing you can do.” “I suppose it is, but I must tell you what you do not | know.” ° | ‘‘Tf you wish. Ido not care to hear it.” ‘‘'You will forever regret it if you do not. I want to tell you why Grace married you. My mother married Alphonse Gorinot, my father, against the wishes, but with the reluctant consent of her father. My father abused my mother by neglecting her. Her father would have nothing to do with them after their marriage. My father died. My -. mother then took me and went to live with her father. He did not like me, and said I was my father’s child. At her father’s entreaty my mother married an American gentle- ~~ man, Grace’s father. The marriage was a very happy one, and my grandfather was delighted. When Grace was born “he devoted himself to her. When he died he left his money, a goodly fortune to her. Our mother had enough already. A provision of the will was that Grace could have Gomichooks: co xis