Page:Horrid Mysteries Volume 3.djvu/138

 vulsive heat. My breast heaved violently, and yet I had it not in my power to unburthen it by a single sigh.

The Count embraced me, squeezing my hand. "You know, my dear Carlos," he added, "that my rapture is not unalloyed with pungent grief."

Caroline now raised me up, putting my hand between her arm, while the Count took hold of me on the other side. They spoke little; however, their tender looks conveyed comfort to my poor heart. I was scarcely conscious of being led by them.

"This then is the consequence of thy adventurous undertaking," said I to myself in the evening, when I was alone in my apartment: "fate has punished thee as thou didst deserve. Yet it is fortunate enough that that decision, that the certainty of thy fate, has cooled thy foolish presumption, and that thou hast a greater share of pride than of any other passion."