His Grace — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 37 answered the house-steward, with an air of discreet reserve. “I meant that the property had been left away from his Grace. I am sorry for it, sir, if I may make so bold as to say so. I fear that his Grace’s influence in the county may be diminished, and that some folks will be inclined to look upon Mr. Paul Gascoigne as the head of the family—which he is of, sir.” From this as well as from other hints which were dropped in my presence, I was led to infer that Mr. Paul Gascoigne had not won the affections of his late uncle’s retainers; but I asked no questions, not car- ing to discuss such delicate matters with those amongst whom it was obviously essential to maintain a strict standard of discipline. I will say for them that they, on their side, abstained from questioning me more than they could help, great though their curiosity must naturally have been to hear something about the young head of the family, upon whom none of them had set eyes during his uncle’s lifetime. I gave them such information as I could ; I told them that he was of a generous disposition, that he was a good sportsman, that he had many friends, and, to the best of my belief, no enemies. More than that I could not tell them, because that was all, or almost all, that I myself knew about him. I was not going to mention certain misgivings which, as time went on, began to trouble me, owing to the accounts which I received from him of his expenditure. | For he did appear to me to be going the pace some- what faster than was prudent. No doubt it was neces- sary that he should have a London residence, since the family mansion in Park Lane had passed into his (Eo)! A) a boo cS (E(0) m =