A Fair Fraud — page 223: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

212 A Fair Fraud times during dinner, and Mr Drury was con- sulted in solemn whispers by the butler. Even Naylor looked serious and full of thought, and Marion, more anxious for those she loved than for. herself, sat silent and watchful of all that went on. Dinner came to rather an abrupt end, both Kenneth and his father having been summoned _ away to interview the coroner in the library, for the inquest was to take place at twelve o'clock the following day. Mrs Drury suggested to the ladies that they should adjourn to the drawing-room, and invited Mr Naylor to accompany them. ‘I think it will be better for me to leave by the early train in the morning,’ said the barrister to his hostess as he followed her into the next room. ‘I can be of no use to you here, and I am wanted in London.’ Mrs Drury expressed many polite regrets that the conclusion of his visit should be so gloomy. ‘But,’ she added, ‘of course, you know nothing whatever about this poor man, so that, as you say, there can be no object in your remaining.’ Presently Naylor walked across the room and joined Marion. ‘I am leaving before breakfast to-morrow,’ he said to her quietly, ‘so I must wish you good-bye to-night.’ GORMGIOO