His Other Wife: A Novel — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

256 4A MIDNIGHT. VISITANT. by such a miserable farce as this persecution is like to prove, you cannot wonder that I accepted any means of escape from it.” ‘‘But your wife, was she not aware of the charge made against you by this crazy woman—and must not Aer tacit acceptance of the situation seem utterly incomprehensible to the community ?” Croft had his answer ready. Without a shade’s change of expression upon his evil countenance, he said: ‘But, of course, Mrs. Croft did of know. That she should remain in ignorance of the black charge was in- cluded in my agreement with the woman Rachel.” “How was the advent of the girl, and the two addi- tional members of your household, explained to her satis- faction?” ‘‘Oh, easily enough; my young ward confided to me by the letter of an old friend, written on his death-bed. As to the two other women, they simply answered adver- tisements made for governess and housekeeper. Nothing more simple.” The face of the advocate wore a perplexed expression, and he said nothing for some time. When he did speak, there was an embarrassment in his manner. ‘‘It is needless for me to admonish you, Mr. Croft, of — the wisdom of giving a candid and unreserved statement of your case in the beginning. As a lawyer of great ex- perience, you know perfectly well how many complica-— tions may arise from the counsel’s ignorance of facts /” ~~ Ecomichbooks.co