His Grace — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 241 CHAPTER XIX, THE BEARDING OF THE LIONESS. I was ata loss to understand what useful purpose could be served by a visit to Lady Deverell, who, in my humble judgment, was made of sterner stuff than Paul Gascoigne, and with whom our interview—suppos- ing that we obtained one—seemed likely to prove even more unpleasant than that which we had just brought to a quasi-victorious close; but, as Hurstbourne evi- dently meant to have his own way, I held my peace and hoped that her ladyship would not be at home. I was disappointed, however ; for, on reaching Upper Grosvenor Street, we were granted admittance and were shown into the empty drawing-room, where we were kept waiting for five minutes. My apprehension of distressing possibilities had led me to inquire softly of the butler whether the young ladies were at home, and he had replied that they had gone out in the car- riage ; which both relieved my mind and suggested to me that Lady Deverell might not have been unprepared for a call from one of us. During the interval of sus- pense that I have mentioned Hurstbourne never opened his lips. He stood on the middle of the hearth-rug, with his hands behind his back, looking pale, resolute and ready to fight any man or woman in the wide world. 16 Gomichboo cS (E(0)