A Daughter of Delilah — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

EDGAR ALSTON’S BETTER SIDE. 165 ‘The same! In this you may help me, as you have had free access to my lady’s bower!’’ Alston flushed with genuine mortification. ‘IT understand that there is a servant-girl, who is in reality the sister of Roseberry, and a lady who passes as Isabel’s aunt in the flat which you have furnished so charmingly!’ went on Mr. Hawkley. ‘‘Can you describe the aunt?’’ “A tall woman, rather dark. That is practically all I know about her,”’ replied Alston. ‘There is an aunt in reality, you know. Inacouple of days, at most, I shall be no longer in doubt. Well, I think that Ican rely upon your discretion, Mr. Alston,’’ -con- cluded the detective. ‘‘Not one word toa living soul! I have taken Mr. Hawley’s counsel into my confidence, and if you meet me at his office to-morrow at ten in the morn- ing, we will secure his release. ’”’ They shook hands cordially, and when Hawkley was gone, Edgar sat in silent thought for upward of an hour. His position was bitterly humiliating, and he felt that his © name would soon be a by-word anda jest the length and breadth of the land. ‘At last,’’ he muttered, savagely. “‘I am constrained to acknowledge that my flinty-hearted father knew what was best for me after all, though his own blunders in connec- tion with the bogus St. Leonards have evened things up pretty much.”’ This was one grain of comfort, but the way in which he had played into the hands of the sham nobleman mad- dened him. ‘“‘By Heaven, I could choke him!”’ Gomicboo cS