His Grace — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 243 termined to make public unless I comply with certain conditions. In what sort of way you meant to make it public I don’t quite understand. Did you propose to communicate it to a news’ agency?” “You know as well as I do,” returned Lady Deverell, “that the kind of publication that is required for all intents and purposes doesn’t mean publication in the newspapers ; though it is likely enough that the story will find its way intosome of them. That is, if you are foolish enough to defy us. If you comply with our con- ditions—as of course you must—we shall not trouble you any further,” “ Well, I shall not comply with your conditions,” said Hurstbourne. ‘As for the penalty with which you threaten me, there is one trifling obstacle in the way of your carrying it out; namely, that your evidence has been scattered to the four winds. I can speak posi- tively upon that point, because I tore your letter into shreds with my own hands only a short time ago.” “You did that!” exclaimed Lady Deverell, her eyes flashing and her lips quivering; “‘ you were guilty of such vile treachery and dishonesty as that! Ah, I might have known that you were your father’s son! How could that man have been fool enough to post the let- ter to you! I told him not to part with it.” “Qh, you mustn’t be angry with him,” answered Hurstbourne coolly; ‘he took every reasonable pre- caution. He invited me to inspect the document at his house; he didn’t know that I should bring a great big friend with me; still less could he anticipate that we should resort to physical violence. As he himself touchingly remarked, he supposed that he had to do with gentlemen.” Gomicboo m