His Grace — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. | 239 not spare you. You may take my word for it that she will not consent to an alliance between you and her niece.” “That,” returned Hurstbourne, “ is a question which may have to be fought out between Lady Deverell and her niece or between Lady Deverell and me; you have nothing to do with it. What has happened to you is that you have tried to play me a dirty trick and failed.” I believe Mr. Gascoigne expressed his opinion of us in well-chosen, trenchant terms ; but he offered no op- position to our exit, nor did I listen very attentively to his parting observations. As soon as we were out in the street I began to scold Hurstbourne roundly, and he paid about as much attention to me as I had paid to his partially-vanquished rival. “It’s all quite true, you know,” he said, breaking in abruptly upon my harangue, after we had walked some little distance; ‘“‘ the thing did actually happen, just as that brute declared.” “Well, I’m afraid so,” I replied; ‘ and that’s just the awkward part of it. When you are charged with having done this, that, the other, e¢ cetera, what line of defence do you propose to adopt, may I ask?” He did not respond, but presently inquired whether I thought that any girl who respected herself would consent to marry the son of a forger. “T can’t answer for girls,’ said I. ‘“ Individually, I should not be so unjust as to hold a son responsible for his father’s misdeeds ; but women don’t so muchas know what justice means. I should think she would refuse you. I quite hope she will because, in any event, she is one of those expensive luxuries which you can’t by any possibility afford.” cComicboo cS (Eo)