Out of the Past — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

142 Out of the Past. “It must be kept from Rose at all hazard. She already has something on her mind, probably the blow she re- ceived in that letter—whatever it was. Our physician has advised me to persuade her to free herself by telling me. But—well—it takes more courage than I have to ask for a confidence she does not offer—looks like dis- trust or suspicion, when there is no taint of that sort in me.” “Yes—but you fill me with impatience. The man from Paris—what is he—what does he want ?” “Money for a safe kind of blackmail.” “Faugh!” , “But there is just enough equity in it to fill a sensitive mind with terror.” He fell silent, and Benedict watched his uneasiness with an anxiety he could not hide. “I wrote you that we were married after the ways of her church. There was no civil marriage.” “Man!” muttered Benedict with a gesture of sharp im- patience. ; “Our child will not be legitimate under the law of France.” Benedict started, then quickly laid his hand on the other’s shoulder. | “What did he want?” “Money.” ECONNICOOO KS n(EO