Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

282 REYNOLDS’ WORKS subject on which we have to converse. I allude to those proceedings that we have threatened to take against Lady Saxondale. You are now aware that Lord Harold Staunton is my nephew. I more than fear — indeed, it is certain from what we already know — that this bad woman has contrived to obtain no small degree of influence over him. It is my duty as well as my wish to rescue him from the circle of her fascinations. But considering the empire which she must have gained over his heart, to have been enabled to make him her instrument in the endeavour to take away your life, it ean only be by revealing her true character to him in the blackest dyes that he may be weaned from his infatu- ation. I do not imagine that he is aware of the fact that she, for some deep and dark purposes of her own, was in correspondence with that dreadful character, the man Chiffin. It is necessary to ascertain for what purpose that man’s services were required by her ladyship. Previous to leaving London, I sent a note to that man at the public- house in Agar Town, desiring him to let me know if anything new transpired in respect to Lady Saxondale, and telling him where he might send a letter to me. Of course I failed not to hint that his reward should be ample, and he has already had proofs that I am not niggard with my gold.” ‘“ And has he answered your lordship? ’’ inquired Deveril. ‘“ Have you heard anything from him? ”’ ‘“ This very afternoon, on my return home from Cavendish Square,’ rephed the marquis, “‘ I found a note from Chiffin. In that scrawl he desires me, accompanied by yourself, to pay another visit to that den in Agar Town, to-morrow evening.at nine o’clock, when he promises to have the most important information to communicate.” “Oh, my lord,’ said Angela, over whose countenance a shade had fallen, “‘ do you not fear to expose yourselves to the dangers of that horrible den, and to the possible treachery of that dreadful man? ”’ 4 ‘“ My sweet girl,’’ responded the marquis, in a benevolent tone of reassurance and encouragement, “‘ you have nothing to tremble for, either on the part of your brother or your old friend. The appointment is given for an hour when that place is frequented by a number of persons, and though they may be all bad characters, yet no outrage is ever attempted by a mixed company of that description. As for the man himself, (Eo) Gomiecbooks