Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/245

 his breast, "Unparallelled wickedness and ingratitude!" (cried he.) Hastily proceeding in the narrative, he no sooner came to the exchange of the children, than throwing his eyes on Matilda, "My heart, and your striking resemblance to the charming Countess, tell me, you are her child." "I am! I am! (replied Matilda, weeping, and strongly agitated) if she will vouchsafe to own me!" He folded her to his bosom, "Own you! O, what transport to recover such a daughter! Compose yourself, my dear young lady; I am little less affected than you are,—but let me finish this interesting confession of a miserable wretch. He went through the whole without any further interruptoninterruption [sic].

At the conclusion, the Captain related the events at Tunis, and the result of their enquiries at Naples, which had brought them to Nice.

"Doubt not, my dear lady, but all your troubles are over; behold the hand of Providence in every event; had not your wretched uncle taken you from France; had you not fallen into the power, perhaps of the only man who would have treated his captives with honor and compassion, unknown in general to people of his profession,—forgive me, sir, the observation; (the Captain bowed) had not the dread of death and everlasting punishments terrified the guilty wretch: had not all these singular events happened, through Divine permission, you might, to this hour, have been ignorant of your birth, and my amiable friend deprived of the joy and transport that await her in your arms.

The Count again warmly embraced her. He paid a thousand polite compliments to the Captain; and though he regretted leaving them, he was anxious to consult his lady in what manner to convey this delightful intelligence to the Countess.

When he returned to his lady she saw he was greatly agitated, and knowing the message he had received, was very curious to hear the result of his visit.