Mezzoni the Brigand — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 105 every promise of a proud and happy career before him then, and all of his instincts were those of a noble and chivalrous character, but all had been blotted out, and misanthropy took possession of his soul. The Countess Amadeo sat over his answer to her letter, and, as he had done when he received hers, she read and re-read it until she was nearly blind with tears and disappointment. She was wonder- fully beautiful even in those tears—there seemed to be no mood which did not suit her. “Oh, that he were here at this moment,”’ she ex- claimed. ‘‘Is this really to be the end? Is my awful sacrifice for naught? Does Alberto refuse my love at last? Hedidlove me. I knew that always, but how deeply he loved I did not know. Ah! it was not until after years of disappointed wedded life that my eyes came to see him in the light which has brought me to this. What care I for his sins and peccadilloes? He cannot be more guilty than I!’’ As she talked thus half aloud to herself, she wrung her hands and walked nervously back and forth in her private apartment. Then she sat down and read those lines again until she could have repeated every syllable. Despair was clearly depicted upon her beautiful face, and there glowed a spirit of des- peration, now and then, in her eyes that was start- ling to behold. She pressed her hands upon her heart to still its wild and painful throbbing, but it was in vain; she seemed almost stifled, and gasped for breath. Suddenly she started to her desk, and said, aloud: ‘“‘T will see him once more at all events.”’ And she scrawled a hasty note, pleading with him Eomicbooks (elo)