Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 101 «‘They are waiting to take your sister away, to answer for the murder of Cecil Beaumont!” was the stern reply. CHAPTER XIII. AT OPEN DOORS DOGS COME IN. ‘‘T was cut off from hope in that sad place, Which yet to name my spirit loathes and fears; My father held his hand upon his face, I, blinded with my tears, Still strove to speak; my voice was thick with sighs As in a dream,’’—TENNYSON, My pen trembles, as I write these things. The black memory of that time rushes ever me and fills my eyes with unavailing tears. Pity that woman’s heart could ever breed such vengeance, and pour it out so ruthlessly. These officers were employed by Miss Meredith, and had been searching for five months for Miss Meredith’s hapless friend. ‘They had been paid to watch the house which had extended a hospitable roof over Miss Meredith’s head; and these spies had at last discovered the fugitive. For some time they had suspected that something unusual was going on in the house, and had set all their vigilance to the work of discovering what it was. ‘They soon assured themselves that we had a concealed visitor; but not until last night could they determine who the visitor was. They set spies to watch Miss Rienzi’s windows, and discovered the gleam of a lamp through the crack of the shutters, burning all night. They had seen Doctor Graves enter the house at midnight, and leave again at half-past one, and boldly inter- cepting him, they had asked who was ill in Mr. Rienzi’s house. The doctor wavered an instant, but almost imme- diately recovered his wits. —** No one,” he answered; ‘‘ I have been having a rubber there, and staid later than I intended; ‘twas long whist.” ‘Mr. Rienzi, Miss [vanilla Rienzi, Doctor Graves, and— who?” queried the detective. Dummy!” was the prompt reply. ‘But you went there at twelve o’clock; does Mr. Rienzi commence long whist at twelve o’clock?” ‘No, but he finishes it,” said the good doctor, cudgeling CORNUCG OOO S (©)