Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

238 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. what right you again return to me. Icannot, and will not love you.’ ‘¢ He cast himself at my feet with such passionate sorrow that I was forced to weep. I tried to soothe him, but he was firm. ‘‘ At last he rose and expressed himself satisfied, and left me. ‘The next morning some letters came to us both; among them was a note for me which overwhelmed me with consternation. It ran thus: ‘*<Tsolina Rienzi will not refuse to meet at —— Hotel, this evening, at five o clock, a lady, who holds her past history in her hands, and to save her from further grief, would warn her of a danger which threat- ens her.’ . | ‘¢This could only refer to my secret marriage with Victor Joselyn; what lady was this who seemed to know of it so well? And she had some danger that she would warn me of. I was terribly alarmed. ‘You remember the wild storm that day? At the hour appointed I stole out, hoping to escape detection, thor- oughly frightened at the consequences of my imprudent secret, and determined to confide to my father and seek his protection as soon as I returned, if danger indeed threatened my husband. ‘© Tt was a furious night, but Lhad not far to go; there was a cab drawn up on the other side of the street, and when I had fought my way against the storm for some rods, it followed me and stopped. The driver asked me if I was Miss Rienzi, and if I was going to the Hotel. When I said yes, he said he had been sent for me, and. opened the cab door. I entered, and was driven rapidly to the place. I was instantly conducted into a private room, when a lady, whom I had never seen before, rose at my entrance, and flung her arms round me. «¢*T have got you at last,’ she cried, exultantly; ‘do you know that you are my child? Did you ever hear of Gemma Lancinetto? I am she, and Iam going to claim you from the wretched Guiseppe Rienzi! His child is in her grave long ago!’ ‘I dropped upon a couch when she released me, sick with terror and amazement. «¢* Lady, I do not understand,’ I cried, ‘Who are you? did you not send for me, on some business connected with COMICOOO S (©)