The Twin Detectives; or, The Robbers of the Tomb — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

100 THE TWIN DETECTIVES. ‘He is wonderfully changed,” said Jean, looking alter her father. ‘‘ He was so much opposed to you at first.” ‘<He was only prudent, my darling girl.” «What do you mean?” ‘“Why, he knew you ought to win the heart of a rich man of high rank, and he thought I was poor.” << And are you not?” asked Jean, artlessly. Tet me tell you, dear Jean, what has changed your father. It will not make any change in you, for you love me for myself alone.” © Yes,” said Jean, thoughtfully. ‘‘ Well, dearest, instead of being a poor man, what would you think if I told you that I was the rightful heir to the late Earl of Cuthbert?” He was prepared for great surprise, but Jean was Age a very great actress, and she merely said: — ‘¢ But the earl’s own son is his heir. He has the hall and everything.” ‘But suppose my right is better than his?” ‘* How can it be?” She spoke impatiently, for she was anxious to get the story over. «< Because my mother was the earl’s wife. She was living* when he married the earl’s mother, and I am older than he 18. 33 ‘“Do you mean to say the earl, that used to be Lord Nu- gent, is not the earl at all?” ‘«He will not be when I have established my claim.” « But why didn’t you establish it long ago? What were _ you waiting for?” ‘‘ Because, Jean I was ignorant of all this. My mother , is mad in some respects.” Jean started. What if Archy’s story were the true one? But no, she had seen the papers.” ‘¢Your mother mad?” comichooks: Go f =»