"In M**, an important town in northern Italy, the widowed Marquise of O**, a lady of excellent reputation and mother of several well-breed children, had the following announcement published in the newspapers: that she had, without knowing the cause, come to find herself in an interesting condition, that she wished the father of the child she was expecting to present himself; and that she was resolved, out of consideration for her family, to marry him." The Marquise of O**, p. 3

"After the initial scene of uncomprehending astonishment was over, and the Count had assured the parents, who had accused him of being dead, that he was alive, he turned to their daughter with great emotion in his face, and asked her before anything else how she felt." The Marquise of O**, p. 10

"When he had left the room, the family were at a loss to know what to...