His Grace — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 245 true. And then they will begin to wonder why, if you meant to reveal the secret at all, you didn’t reveal it a little sooner.” “That will easily be explained. I might have re- venged myself upon your father if I had condescended to do so and if I had thought that a mere desire for re- venge could ever be justifiable. Itis because I did not think so that I have hitherto spared himand you. But now I have a motive—a very sufficient motive—for speaking out, and you know very little about me if you imagine that my mouth will be closed by any fear of the laughter of my friends.” “You really mean to proclaim your motive, then? That is courageous of you; though it can’t be called discreet. You are really going to announce from the house-tops that your reason for accusing my father of a crime which can’t possibly be proved against him is that you are in terror lest your niece should have be- stowed her affections upon my father’sson? There is one person who won’t thank you for your candor, and that is Miss St. George.” “T could have proved him guilty,” cried Lady Deverell, a dull red color coming into her faded cheeks ; “ I have only ‘been deprived of my proof by your infamous brutality. You don’t even affect to deny that; and if you did, I could call Mr. Gascoigne and that foolish young Martyn, whom I am sorry to See in his present disgraceful situation, as witnesses.” | “No doubt; still you would be left in the painful predicament of having placed Miss St. George ina _ predicament even more painful than your own. Your dilemma would have been pretty much the same if I had left Paul Gascoigne in undisturbed possession of Gomichboo cS m