The Opposite House: A Novel — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

The Opposite House. 175 as an eel, and I fear we can hardly trust solely to the letter, though it is certainly the same hand- writing. Let us see, I have some of Ida’s old let- ters.” She went to the chest of drawers, opened the one in the middle, took out an old-fashioned portfolio and hurriedly ransacked its contents, which con- sisted principally of letters, yellowed sheets, ar- ranged with a certain degree of care. “ Here, look yourself,” she exclaimed, exultingly taking out a letter to compare it with Brand’s. “Precisely the same hand, only here a little more hurried and careless.” The dancer hastily approached. ‘‘ Adored Ida,” ‘‘Old Pal.’ Yes, there was a strik- ing resemblance in the handwriting. ‘“T have other things to reveal, madam,’ she said in a more excited tone than before, ‘‘ which would surely place Brand in the hands ofthe police. It is a secret which may cost him his life. He isa sharper; he 1s the headof a secret gaming-hell ; he treads forbidden paths, and the police seem to be already on his track. He is—” “Mademoiselle !”’ cried the baroness, with vehe- ment emotion, pausing before the visitor. ‘Is this the truth ?”’ Heloise laid her hand upon her heart. ‘T swear it, for I have read it in his own hand,” cComiclsoo S