In Search of an Unknown Race — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

VAN. 137 and knew how gladly she would receive the beautiful! motherless girl after learning her romantic history. To this lady, whom he had known in other days, Mr. Briscoe had written a long letter of explanation and instruction, the contents of which were only known to himself ; which letter, duly sealed, was intrusted to Ninada’s keeping. As in the case of Van himself, Ninada was to be pro- vided with abundant means in the form of precious stones, from the sale of which her income would arise. What amount would thus be taken, Van neither knew nor cared. He was well aware that Mr. Briscoe would supply his daughter lavishly, and though he himself was ignorant of the relative value of such things, he felt sure that the sparkling stones given him by his uncle, and subsequently transferred to his money belt, were worth a very large sum of money. As to the duration of Ninada’s stay, Mr. Briscoe spoke evasively. It depended, he said, partly upon herself. She would know in due time, and further than that he would not say. All this was kept secret from Flores, who seemed to notice nothing out of the ordinary. He was absent from the house much of the time, coming and going at will. Whether he had given up his firmly asserted re- solve, or whether he was biding his time, was best known to himself. Known only to themselves too, were the feelings of Ninada and Mr. Briscoe as to their coming separation ; but as I have said, strong emotions never came to the surface among the people of Itambez. Ninada herself, believing the parting to be but temporary, did not «! EOmicboo <S