His Grace — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 233 painful and—er—-shameful event about which I had to write to you, and I daresay I may assume that you and he have called in order to satisfy yourselves that I pos- sess documentary proofs of the truth of my statement.” Hurstbourne said: “ Exactly so. Now produce your documentary proofs, please.” “T hold it in my hand,” answered Mr. Gascoigne, opening a drawer and taking out a folded sheet of notepaper ; “‘ but before submitting it to your inspec- tion, it would be as well, for the sake of lucidity, that I should inform you of certain episodes connected with your father’s early life.” Hurstbourne, I am sorry to say, forgot himself so far as to exclaim: “ Damn your lucidity and your epi- sodes too! Give me that vaper and have done with it.” He looked so pugnacious that Mr. Gascoigne glanced apprehensively at the bell, and I judged it appropriate to intervene. “ By all meanslet us have the episodes,” said I; “ only I am sure you will understand, Mr. Gas- coigne, that your cousin is naturally impatient to arrive at results and that the less time we waste upon prefa- tory observations the better.” ‘J will be brief, then,” our tormentor rejoined, with an unfriendly side-glance at me; “if I am also com- pelled to appear curt and wiifoaliines the fault will not be mine. From information which I have received, I gather that my unfortunate uncle, the late Lord Charles Gascoigne, went astray at the very outset of his career. He took to betting and racing, as—as others have done, and, it would seem, with as little experience or knowl- edge to guide him as others have been equipped with. The usual consequence ensued; he became involved Gomichboo (~\ cS (E(e)