Her Faithful Knight — page 343: what you’re looking at

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

And Last. 339 “Tf you have a writ or anything like that———” he was beginning when the stranger cut him short. “Nothing of the sort. But you’ve got to have an in- terview with me, so you may as well let me in at once and get it over.” As he spoke, by a sudden movement he burst the door wide open, and, thrusting Darcy aside, strode into the sitting-room. Darcy went back to the sitting-room and found the dark young man, with his hands behind his back, con- temptuously surveying the supper-table. Darcy went at once to the open letter to his mother, which he had left on his writing-table, and slipped it within his desk, from the inside of which his fingers drew deftly forth some- thing glistening, which he promptly secreted within the pocket of his coat. Then he turned toward the young man and addressed him with easy, gentle superiority. “T am, of course, charmed to make your acquaintance,” he began, “but as I don’t know who you are, and my time is rather valuable——” “My name is Sholto Knight,” said the stranger, brusquely. “My wife’s brother! I am delighted to meet you. Have some champagne to celebrate the event!” As he cut the cork, with Sholto staring fixedly at him the while, Darcy tried to remember what he had heard from Phyllis and Dorothy of the man with whom he had to deal. Gradually it became borne in on his mind that this brother was a ne’er-do-well, who had been turned out of his home and had gone abroad. Darcy had not the slightest wish to know the man, and he was wondering how he could get rid of him as he filled two glasses and offered one to Sholto. “Drink it off,” he said, “to your sister’s future happi- ness and mine.” CoOmicooolkks (C@)