Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

68 REYNOLDS’ WORKS such monstrous guilt as this. By Heaven, there is no punish- ment too great for such a miscreant! How is it, Elizabeth, that you have not invoked the aid of justice ere now? ”’ ‘Ah! my dear sir,’’ responded Lady Bess, in a tone of deep melancholy, ‘‘ because there are reasons which induce me to seek the settlement of all this without exposure to the world.” ‘“ And those reasons? ’’ asked Mr. Gunthorpe, with a look - of anxiety and suspense. “| fear,’ rephed Elizabeth Chandos, slowly, “ that this bad man is acquainted with secrets relative to one whose honour and good name must be spared.” “And that one? ”’ cried Mr. Gunthorpe, vehemently. _ “Lady Everton, —the mother of Adolphus,’ rejoined Lady Bess. “ But not to Adolphus yet have I revealed what I know or, rather, suspect — ’’ “ But to me, Elizabeth, to me, I say,’ interrupted Mr. Gunthorpe, with a voice and look of solemn adjuration; ‘to me must you tell everything. I did not think of enter- ing further into explanations this day, but what you have been saying renders it necessary. Tell me, then, my dear Elizabeth, tell me, I beseech you, what your suspicions are, or what your knowledge 1s? ”’ “ T will, Mr. Gunthorpe,’’ responded the Amazonian lady, deeply impressed with the conviction that he had not merely grave reasons but even some mysterious right thus to question her. Then, in a low and solemn voice, she added, “My belief is, Mr. Gunthorpe, that Lady Everton is my own mother, and therefore the mother of Frank also.”’ Mr. Gunthorpe said nothing, but he looked strangely at Lady Bess. Indeed, shrewd and penetrating though she was, she could not comprehend the nature of that look, but at least she felt assured that it was fraught with a kind interest for her. “Yes, that indeed is a grave consideration,” he observed, after a long pause. ‘‘ Elizabeth, you are acting most wisely, most prudently; you are acting in a way that does you infinite honour. Yes, my dear Elizabeth, the good name of Lady Everton must be sereened, must be protected, and therefore her vile brother-in-law must be dealt cautiously with. You will admit me to your counsels; you will suffer me to advise with you relative to each consccutive step Gomicbooks. co