Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER IX THE NOBLEMAN AND THE LAWYER Asout half an hour after Sir John Marston had taken his departure from Lord Petersfield’s presence, Mr. Malton was announced. ‘This gentleman, as our readers will recollect, was the junior and more grave and steady partner of the eminent legal firm, and though perhaps he possessed not the same sharp-witted qualities as Mr. Marlow, yet he had none of that gentleman’s excitability, which often merged into rashness. “Well, Malton,” said Petersfield, who, being very inti- mate with the lawyers, treated them with a corresponding familiarity, ‘‘ what has brought you hither this afternoon? Some new freak of Saxondale’s? ”’ ‘““No, my lord; my business on the present occasion,” responded Malton, “‘ regards her ladyship, and as you are so old standing a friend of the family, Mr. Marlow and I have deemed it to be our duty to consult you in the present case.”’ ‘“ And pray what is it? ”’ asked his lordship, looking awfully grave and important at what he took to be a compliment paid to his wisdom and judgment. ‘Tt is an unpleasant business,’ said Mr. Malton. “ Per- chance your lordship may have heard of a certain William Deveril? ”’ ; ‘ Without committing myself in too positive a manner,” replied the nobleman, “ I think I may venture to state that I have heard of such a person. Nay, more, I will go so far as to admit that I have seen him at Lady Saxondale’s house, and I believe— but I would not pledge myself beyond the possibility of retraction — that he taught the young ladies some particular style of painting.” | “ Precisely so, my lord. Does it also happen that you have 84 Gomichbooks (E(0)