Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

TERRIBLE: AND STRANGE REVELATIONS 281 be very particular in some matters; but I detest the mis- creants that deal in murder by poison or violent means, as I am sure those fellows have long done.” ‘“ Well, well,” interrupted Page, ‘“‘ you are now removed from their society, at all events. Let us next turn our at- tention to the papers contained in this pocketbook. Of course the Hannah Lightfoot whose hair is enclosed in one of these papers, and whose Christian name or initials are appended to the letters, was your father’s sister, conse- quently your aunt? ”’ ‘““ She was,”’ answered Julia. ‘‘ But I never saw her; she died of a broken heart when I was a mere child.”’ ‘Now do you think she was really married to the present king, or not? ’’ inquired Page. ‘Tt is impossible to say. I used to ask my father some- times, but he always evaded the question. For my part, I should imagine that she was; for I believe that her principles were most excellent and her virtue beyond all question. Be- sides,’ added Julia, “the contents of that pocketbook appear to prove that she was a wie, and not a mistress.”’ “Such is my opinion,’ observed Page. ‘ But how was it. that your father, who was evidently such a griping and avaricious man, did not think of making money by these papers? ’’ demanded the commercial traveller. ‘IT know that he often thought of doing so,’’ was the reply; “ but I have heard him say, when he was in conver- sation with the Magsman upon the subject, that the letters proved nothing. They were restored to my aunt, it appears, when all connection was broken off between her and the present king, then Prince of Wales. But one-half of a cer- tain document in my aunt’s possession had unfortunately been lost by her, and that was the only paper which really might have been made good use of, had it fallen in its entire state into my father’s hands.”’ “Then your father never had that document in an entire state? ’’ said Page. ‘“ Never,” was the reply. ‘“‘ But I will tell you how that was, for I have often heard the old man speaking about it. It appears that when my aunt’s connection with George III —then Prince of Wales — ceased, she retired into the strictest seclusion, living upon a small pension allowed her through the agency of a certain Lady Stamford. My father GOmicdoo <S' (C©)