'
'You found her weeping when you were once at Marringhurst. You told me
of it.'
'Ay, ay!'
'There is a wing of our house shut up. We often talked of it.'
'Often, Venetia; it was a mystery.'
'I have penetrated it,' replied Venetia in a solemn tone; 'and never
have I known what happiness is since.'
'Yes, yes!' said Lord Cadurcis, very pale, and in a whisper.
'Plantagenet, I have a father.'
Lord Cadurcis started, and for an instant his arm quitted Venetia's.
At length he said in a gloomy voice, 'I know it.'
'Know it!' exclaimed Venetia with astonishment. 'Who could have told
you the secret?'
'It is no secret,' replied Cadurcis; 'would that it were!'
'Would that it were! How strange you speak, how strange you look,
Plantagenet! If it be no secret that I have a father, why this
concealment then? I know that I am not the child of shame!' she added,
after a moment's pause, with an air of pride. A tear stole down the
cheek of Cadurcis.
'Plantagenet! dear, good Plantagenet! my brother! my own brother! see,
I kneel to you; Venetia kneels to you! your own Venetia! Venetia that
you love! Oh! if you knew the load that is on my spirit bearing me
down to a grave which I would almost welcome, you would speak to me;
you would tell me all.
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