Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

158 REYNOLDS’ WORKS fused, and seemed as if he would have given a great deal to avoid such an encounter. More than ever convinced by his manner that he had wronged me in some way which I could not well understand, I said to him that the time would come when he must answer to me for the past. Re- covering his wonted effrontery, he declared that he had nothing to answer for, whereupon I assured him that I was far from satisfied with his conduct toward me, and would do my best to penetrate the meaning of it. He asked me how I was circumstanced; but instead of giving a direct reply, I inquired how it was possible I could be otherwise than poor, inasmuch as I had no doubt been defrauded out of money that was due to me. At this he affected to be very indignant, reminding me of the five thousand pounds I had received, and which he said ought to have served as the fund of an income for my whole life. I then explained how I had been robbed of it within a few days after receiving the amount from him, and I insisted that he should do more for me, unless he wished me to give publicity to the whole affair of the mysterious marriage with the Marquis of Ville- belle. ‘Thereupon he replied that he was not at all influenced by my threats, but that out of compassion he would allow me an income sufficient to keep me from want. But seeing me well dressed, he asked how I had been living? I at once boldly informed him that I held the situation of governess in a wealthy family, but that the duties thereof were most irksome, and that I had long thought of writing to him through his lawyer to demand an account of those monies which I felt convinced he must have deprived me of. After some reflection, he offered me two hundred a year if I would forbear from giving publicity to the circumstances of the marriage in Paris. Seeing that he was thus yielding, I at once declared that I would effect no such compromise, but that if he would double the amount I would listen to his terms. He agreed and we went together to the office of his attorney, Mr. Robson, whom he instructed in my presence to pay me one hundred pounds a quarter. He introduced me as the Marchioness of Villebelle, in which name I was of course to sign the receipts. A hundred pounds were paid to me at once, and we separated. ‘T purchased a horse, and amused myself with riding Gomicbooks (E(0)