His Other Wife: A Novel — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

132 A. MORTAL. COMBAT. ‘*No_ fear 9; so romantic a denouement in. thls Ap ne i ae) sal, gay by aa words with two or three young emi men. ‘‘She could never think of me in any other aspect than friend, mentor, or brother.” -“*VYou should. know. better. than. to encourage such. incredulity ; similar things happen. so constantly. “ Unless. you are prepared to marry Mr. Croft’s ward, and carry off the beautiful young heiress from all the other fortune- hunters, I think you are unwise to interfere with the attentions of men who would be eligible partners for her.” In her keen anxiety to sting Warren’s sensitive pride,to the point.of withdrawing his interest entirely from ,the girl, whose fortune rendered. her a prize. for competitors. with mercenary motives, she had aimed her stroke. too close to the vital spot in his character, In a tone of bitter contempt, he said: ‘‘You, madam, are the last person he who ould think me capable of interfering with a woman’s social . prospects, Miss Hilary is as sacred from matrimonial designs on my part as if she were my own sister.” Almost immediately after this he took his leave. Crossing the sward beyond the shrubbery, he entered. the deeply embowered arcade of the drive that led toward the city, and there, standing beneath one of the .huge oaks in a languid attitude, with a cigar between. his lips, he perceived the elegant person of Julian Vernois., With.an indolent gesture, and not changing his posture, Vernois said: ¥ Eomicbooks:.¢o