The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

274 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “Tt is impossible to come to an immediate decision,” rejoined Adolphus, impatiently. ‘“‘ My feelings are so dis- turbed, my mind is so cruelly agitated — I beseech you, press me not now, but at this hour to-morrow —”’ “ Well, well, I see that I must humour you,” said the old nobleman, “‘ and it is natural enough you should be annoyed and excited to learn that you are not your father’s son. But mind! to-morrow we shall set to work in good earnest to hurry on this bridal.” Adolphus made no response, but hastened from the room. He retired to his own chamber, and there gave way to his reflections. An hour did he thus remain in the companion- ship of those thoughts, and at the expiration of that interval, his mind appeared to made up to some particular course. Descending to the drawing-room, he found the countess and Isabella seated together, and the former was at once struck by the strangeness of his looks. He inquired where the earl was, and learned that he had gone out in the carriage for an hour or two. Adolphus then made a sign for the countess to escape from Isabella’s society, or get rid of her for a little while, on some pretext, and Ethel was therefore still further convinced that there was something exceedingly wrong. It was by no means difficult for Lady Lascelles to quit the apartment without exciting a suspicion on the part of the unsophisticated Isabella, and Adolphus speedily followed her. They were now alone together in another sitting-room, and Ethel immediately said, “‘ For Heaven’s sake, Adolphus, relieve me from suspense! What has happened? Has the earl discovered everything? Is my deep, deep guilt known to him? ” ) “‘ No, Ethel,” was the young man’s response; “ and you are not so deeply guilty as you have hitherto believed your- self. A strange and terrible revelation has been made to me— Ina word, I am not the earl’s son.”’ It would be impossible to describe the astonishment experienced by Ethel on receiving this announcement, but the first thought that struck her as that feeling of amaze- ment subsided was that the brain of Adolphus had become unsettled. When, however, he circumstantially detailed to her all that had passed between himself and the Earl of Lascelles, she perceived that it was indeed the truth which CORNICLOOOLK