Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

86 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ter. Now, we have received two or three letters from her ladyship with reference thereto, and the last one, which came to hand yesterday morning, bade us defend any action that might be brought against her iadyship, as she adhered to her original statement, and defied Mr. Deveril to a her good name.’ “Well, then, Malton,” said Lord Petersfield, ‘‘ I suppose you must defend the action.” ‘But consider, my lord, the inconvenience of raed her ladyship’s name before the tribunals on such a subject. Your lordship is well aware of the wickedness of the world, and there will be found plenty of persons ready enough to take Deveril’s part.’’ ‘But what is your opinion, Malton? ”’ inquired the noble- man, “‘ and what does Deveril allege? ”’ The lawyer proceeded to explain in detail the particulars of that interview which had taken place with Mr. Gunthorpe in Parhament Street, and which was duly chronicled in our narrative. ‘More than ever,’ continued Malton, ‘‘ did Mr. Gun- thorpe insist yesterday upon what he had previously stated. He warns us, 1! we value Lady Saxondale’s reputation, not to let her go to trial. He says that he possesses evidence the nature of which we little suspect, and which will prove damnatory to her ladyship. He declares that he has no particular desire to bring this matter before the public, but that his only object is to clear up his young friend Dev- eril’s reputation. I must confess that he spoke so fairly, and at the same time in a tone of such solemn warning, that both Marlow and myself entertain serious apprehensions concerning the matter.’’ ‘Do you mean me to understand,’’ asked Lord Petersfield, “that you think it quite possible Mr. Deveril’s version may be the right one, and Lady Saxondale’s the erroneous one? Don’t speak hastily; take time to consider — ”’ ‘IT have considered the matter, and very seriously,”’ responded Malton. ‘ At first both myself and Marlow felt indignant at the slur thus thrown upon her ladyship’s reputation; we thought of the purity of her life, the untar- nished character she has maintained, the dignified virtue which has appeared to place her beyond the reach even ot suspicion. But Mr. Gunthorpe so pointedly and emphat- Eomicbooks: co