Her Faithful Knight — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

254 | Aylmer to the Rescue. Before the underground Charing Cross Station, he ex- plained to himself, he would be able to buy more papers, and that, of course, was his reason for directing his steps thither. But hardly had he turned from John street into the steep descent of Villiers street when he knew beyond a doubt why he had come. For walking swiftly toward the Strand, with free, swinging step, clothed in deep mourning and closely veiled, was the woman whose image wholly absorbed his thoughts and whom, with all the strength of love and will, he most longed to see. He knew her instantly before she lifted her veil and showed her face, paler and thinner than he had known it, but to Aylmer unutterably sweet and appealing. Before any other passer by had time to note its beauty, he was by her side and had drawn her hand through his arm. “Lower your veil instantly,” he said in very low, au- thoritative tones. “I am Aylmer Read, your friend. You must do everything I tell you and trust me wholly.” (COPMICELOOLKS 5eO)