Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

[ ~ os" » ay ~~ | \ MANFRED’S QUEST. ‘‘ The friendship you question?”’ ‘Mrs. Silver remained silent. ‘Very well, I will proceed. The family went to Europe. I had never heard of you; years passed and one day a lady appeared in my office. She removed her veil, and I was struck by a wonderful resemblance to Mr. Nil- yer, a gentleman whom I had often seen; this lady told me that she was the daughter of Mr. Silver, and her won- derful personal resemblance bore out her claim.” ‘*T have heard of this lady,’’ said Mrs. Silver. ‘‘-Yes, madame, and Mr. O’Grady has seen her and can readily bear out my statement as to the remarkable resem- dlance. ”’ The detective nodded his head, and asked: ‘¢ Can you explain that resemblance?’ 66 I can. 33 , ** Will you?’’ ‘* Later on; but I wish to explain how I came to appear ‘to play the part of a villain.’’ ‘“You admit you appeared to play the - of a vil- dain?’ ‘*T do, but I can clear mye; as I have some further remarkable revelations to make. ” CHAPTER XXXVI. RESUMING after a moment, Stevens said: ‘‘This lady presented herself as the daughter of Mr. Silver, and she told me a remarkable story. She said her father had married her mother and had deserted her, and that he had disappeared. She said further that she had not seen him for many years, but had within a short time Jearned that he was alive. She had sought out Mr. Elver- ton, and had learned that he was dead; and she further aid that there was a woman claiming to be her father’s wife; that the woman had been in an asylum, but had escaped; that the woman was really crazy, but was being used by others so that through her they could obtain possession of the fortune her father was known to possess. ‘Now listen,’’ continued the lawyer, *‘I am familiar with Mr. Silver’s handwriting, and she presented letters writ- ten in his hand confirming the fact of his marriage, the fact of his having a daughter, and also the fact of his wife’s death. ”’ ‘* My husband testified to my death?’’ exclaimed Mrs. Silver. *¥ es. °* ‘*'The letters were forgeries. ”” ** No, madame, they were not forgeries. ’’ ‘¢ They must have been, for I am not dead.”’ ‘© Ah, I see it all now. Your husband had been made to believe that you were dead, and, as I remember the let- ters now, I can see they were on information and_ belief. Your enemies must have made him believe that you were dead, and they succeeded in making me believe that the lady who claimed to be Mr. Silver’s daughter really was $0, and she was, as I supposed, and had good reason to suppose, really seeking a lost father.’’ ‘* At the time did you know where Mr. Silver resided ?”’ **T did not. ’’ ‘*Tt was proved that a gentleman tierce visited Se Vea. it was Mr. Elverton, but the latter is dead. ” ** How long has he se; dead:°” ; ** Less than a year.” ** Proceed. ’’ **' The young lady who claimed to Miss Silver furnished other proofs of the most convincing character, and withal, please remember, she bears a most striking and wonderful resemblance to Mr. Silver. ’’ ‘* Who can she be?” ‘‘T have an idea; indeed, I think I know; but let me proceed. I only discovered Mr. Silver’s residence after his death. ‘You were the lawyer who appeared at the inquest?’’ é¢ I am. 23 ‘*Tt was you who testified that there was a will?’’ ¢é Yes.’ ? ‘** Did you know there was a will?’’ ‘¢T remembered that Mr. Silver had once made a will which had beén drawn by Mr. Elverton; and I supposed, as a matter of course, there must be a will.”’ ‘‘ Who could have murdered my husband?’’ ‘* Murdered your husband, madame?’’ 66 Yes. 33 ‘Do you think your husband was murdered?’’ é¢é a do. 33 | ‘‘ No, no; it was a case of suicide, and it will be se proved when—”’ The lawyer stopped. ‘“< When, sir?’’ queried Mrs. Silver. ‘‘ When we find the mysterious owner of the trunk. ”’’ ‘‘ Whom do you believe the owner of the trunk to be??? ‘‘ Mr. Silver’s daughter, or his murderers, if indeed you are right, and he really was murdered; but I do not be- lieve in the murder theory; but let me proceed. I had seen a portrait of yourself, and I had heard stories con- cerning you which led me to believe that you were a bad woman, and when I learned of the trunk, I suspected you were the owner of it, and I also suspected that you wrong- fully had in your possession what did not belong to you. I met you at C—— and started to follow you, and you know how I followed you on board-of the train, and how you eluded me. I have not seen you since until now.” ‘‘ How is it you have suddenly become convinced that I am Mrs. Silver?’’ . ‘‘T will tell you. It was after the death of Mr. Silver that I began to doubt the genuineness of the claim of the lady who had presented herself as Mr. Silver’s daughter, but I was not fully convinced of her dishonesty until Mr. O’Grady caught her in a wide discrepancy as to facts con- cerning the trunk. When I taxed her and finally com- pelled her to confess the truth, she confessed that she was not Mr. Silver’s daughter, but at least his nearest relative, and the true heiress of his wealth, I determined to investi- gate the truth, and to the best of my ability establish it, and up to a certain time I believed it was diamond cut dia- mond, a double scheme to get possession of the furtune; there was one mystery I could not solve.’’ ‘¢ What mystery was that?” ‘“*T could not locate and identify the party who shipped the mysterious trunk.” ‘¢ Do you know now?’’ ** T suspect. ”’ ‘¢ What do you suspect: ‘*T suspect that the lady who shipped the trunk f is Mr. Silver’s daughter and yours. ”’ ‘€ Do you suspect what has become of her??? **T do not.’ ‘© Do you know of any reason why she should remain ia hiding?” éé T do. bP ** What do you suspect?’’ - ‘“‘T suspect she is aware of the schemes of the man Saunders. ” 599 ‘book