Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/94

with another gentleman. "This is the Marquis De Melfort, (said he,) and immediately added, permit me to introduce to your Lordship, Mr. Weimar; we were going to your hotel." "Has Mr. Weimar any business, Sir, with me." "I have, Sir, (he replied, in a very calm tone of voice;) I had the pleasure to wait on the Marchioness, but there was a misunderstanding took place." "Suppose we step home to my house, (said Du Versac.) We agreed so to do. When seated, "Now, Sir, (addressing Mr. Weimar) I am prepared to hear whatever you please to say." He then began a long story of taking Matilda from her infancy, after the death of her father and mother, the tenderness he had treated her with, the education he had given her, his design of giving her his moderate fortune; mentioned a variety of circumstances to prove his affection, and her subsequent flight with Albert, taking a horse from his stable, and deceiving him with false pretences. As her uncle, he had a right to claim her: her behaviour to him made her undeserving protection, but duty to his deceased brother called upon him to protect his child; and he would therefore forgive the error she had been drawn into, and receive her as kindly as ever. When he stopped, I replied, "Sir, there is much plausibility, also, I believe, great truth in what you have related: you must not be offended if I also state facts exactly as Miss Weimar has related them to us." I repeated her story; when I came to the circumstance of the conversation between him and Agatha in the summer-house, he started and turned pale, but quickly recovered. I added, that meeting accidentally with a relation of mine, she was recommended to our house as an asylum, which it was my determination to afford her, and I should suppose no uncle of her's could object to her situation with the Marchioness, who was desirous of considering her as an adopted daughter." "I am no longer at a loss to account for her conduct, (replied he;)