The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

126 THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. — worships, it must be at a sacrifice to his better nature. I hear them ask him what he intends to do, and I am pleased to catch his reply. “Tam in the hands of my friends. Therese here and the detective she has employed, a Mr. Craig, can advise me,” he says. With that I get up and go out. Changing my disguise I once more enter the restaurant, and express surprise at finding them there. They gradually put me in possession of the fact that Robert has discovered the true nature of the adventuress, and is entirely cured of his folly. He says this latter himself, and looks so stern and severe that I can hardly refrain from smiling. Poor fellow! his fortress may seem impregnable in his eyes, but I know full well that one killing look from those roguish eyes will create havoc there, and that only a brief bombardment will cause the white flag to be run up in token of surrender. It suits my plans well enough to know that Robert means to give her up, and I feel that every hour that passes will strengthen my case. The next thing to be done is to get Robert and his sister into the Palmer House, and assigned to rooms as brother and sister, under false names. When that has been accomplished I must see Colonel Acton, and arrange our business for a de- scent upon the swindles. In this game we will be glad to have the assistance of Billings. Besides, _, there is Lord Arthur and his two sporting friends, ready to be made use of. In private I speak to the Englishman, and tell him just what I think. He jumps at the hint I let fall; and immediately insists on Robert promising to join himself and friends in €oO comicbooks