Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

80 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. to keep secret the names of my patrons, I claim the right, sir, to keep my word. No gentleman, sir, would ask me to break it!” ‘I shall be sorry to extort the necessary information from Doctor Oaks by public measures!” said my father, quietly. This threat had a very visible effect on the broad physi- ognomy ofthe superintendent. Its hanging cheeks became purple, and. its ample lips pursued out with the dumb ex- pression of feelings of the very liveliest order. ‘‘I give you five minutes to remember the circumstances,” added my father, sternly. “Sir, I—I am ready to do my utmost to oblige,” burst out the good doctor, retreating into his big shell with al- most undignified haste; ‘“‘but upon my honor, I know very little about it. ‘he lady was sent here on the first day of December in a carriage with one servant, who de- livered a letter, saying that Miss White would be made our charge until sent for; and meantime, her first year’s pay- ment accompanied her. We wrote out her indentures and returned them with the man, who drove away, and left her in our charge!” ‘‘And why did you not demand proper proof of their right to deposit any lady with you?” exclaimed my father. ‘Was this honest dealing? And what guarantee have you that her fee for next year will be paid? And if not, what will become of her? She will be cherished here on the memory of her last year’s fee, I suppose? Or perhaps her incurable insanity will about this time prove fatal!” ‘‘Sir—sir!” cried the doctor, turning very pale, “‘ I assure you that such a thing never occurred, and this is an alto- gether unprecedented case. Still, we have attended to the lady with the most devoted care, and loaded her with kind- ness on account of her very fragile health. She has had medical attendance of the highest order—yes, I may say the very highest, sir. I hope that will be taken into account.” ‘‘Tt shall certainly be taken into account, sir, and the character of the attendance most strictly examined into, if the lady’s health is found to have been tampered with.” ‘““My dear young lady!” exclaimed Dr. Oaks, turning anxiously to me, ‘‘ your sister was in a state of settled mel- ancholy when she reached us; I believe she is suffering from a softening of the brain, which will ultimately develop COMICOOO S (©)