A Fair Fraud — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

A Fair Fraud 225 mare than a sober reality, yet when the two girls stood trembling together after their forcible entrance into the coach-house where the dead man was laid, Marion forgot to be frightened, so proud did she feel of her companion. For Hester that day verified her good opinion of her, and proved beyond a doubt that in spite of everything in her disfavour she had good and noble stuff in her. When the crucial moment came and she was called upon by the coroner to give her evidence, Hester stood up before them all, deathly pale indeed, but calm and brave, and replied to the questions that were put to her in a clear and distinct voice. ‘Did she know this man?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘What was his name? Was it William Hicks ?’ _ ‘No; it was William Bradford.’ ‘When did you last see him and speak -to him ?’ , ‘ Yesterday.’ ‘Do you know his history ?’ ‘Yes. He was convicted some years ago of forgery and embezzlement, and had. lately finished serving his time of ten years’ penal servitude in Dartmoor prison.’ ‘I am really sorry, Miss Lane,’ here said the coroner, with evident compunction, ‘ but it P JOO oO G' Q)