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"God grant it h

"Do you then fear your uncle's arrival?" exclaiitated

voice

"Do not speak so loud, Mary; your duenna must not hear what I a I have dreaded my uncle's

arrival Previously I i, and

now the thought of it makes me tremble"

"Have you then heard from your uncle?"

"Alas! htest, when I

was thanking God for a happiness which I thought already mine, a dark

cloud comes to overshadow my life I see the cruel sentence which condeirl turned deadly pale, and anxiously awaited an explanation

of the mystery

"My beloved Mary," he whispered, "it is a secret which I can only confide

to you in part, and which in strict honor I should perhaps conceal

entirely Four weeks ago a hly esteemed, was left by a

curious train of circued me to lend him

ten thousand crowns Should I refuse his request, the credit of his house