Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

242 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“ And were you aware,” asked Lord Eagledean, “ that at the expiration of twelve months from his lordship’s death, I wrote from Germany to your poor mistress? ”’ ‘Yes, my lord, I am approaching that subject now. Her brother-in-law, who had become Lord Everton, doubtless expected that you would take some such step as that, and of course, from all you have told me, it by no means suited him that you should return to England. A ‘No, because he might have been well aware that if I became the husband of your mistress, I should institute a strict inquiry into the circumstances of Adolphus’s death. . And moreover,’ continued the Marquis of Eagledean, “there can be no doubt that he had already come to an understanding with his sister-in-law’s brother, Sir John Marston, that while he was to do what he thought fit to obtain the title and estates of Everton, Marston and Peters- field might on their side look upon the fortunes of Elizabeth and Frank as their own booty. But proceed, Mrs. Jameson.”’ “ Well, my lord, I was going to observe,’ continued the old housekeeper, “‘ that my lady’s brother-in-law was on the lookout either for your return to England, or else for the arrival of letters from you. A letter did come, and he inter- cepted it. When he had read it, he took it tomy mistress, whom he allowed, or, rather, compelled to reside at the Park. She was in a bad state of health, deeply desponding, and with a mind painfully attenuated. In such a condition it was not a very difficult task for him to coerce her into a particular course of action; her reputation was in his hands, he could shatter her fair fame at any moment, as if it were brittle glass. He compelled her to write back a particular style of answer to yourself, and he knew from what you had previously written that it would prove conclusive, for you had left my dear mistress to decide upon your fate. No reply came, or if you ever wrote again, the letters reached not my mistress.’’ ‘T never wrote again,’ observed the Marquis of Eagle- dean. ‘“‘I retired to Italy, adopted an assumed name, and dwelt in retirement.”’ “My lady’s brother-in-law,’’ continued the housekeeper, ‘appeared now to feel more assured of his own position. He no doubt concluded that all apprehensions which had arisen on your account were fully disposed of. Time wore Eomichbooks (E(0)