Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 301: what you’re looking at

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

284 THE COURT OF LONDON lars?” asked Page, greatly interested in the singular narra- tive. ‘“ Because the first interview between my father and the Magsman took place in my presence,’”’ was the answer; ‘and, although I was only sixteen at the time, I was rather sharp lor my age and listened to everything I heard.” ‘’ We must suppose, from all the facts that are known to us,”’ continued Page, “ that the other and most important halt of the certificate is irretrievably lost — perhaps des- troyed altogether.”’ “Such was my father’s impression after he had heard all that the Magsman told him when they met in the way I have just related; but soon afterward,” continued Julia, “something happened to make him alter his opinion on that head, and there is every reason to believe that the other half of the paper is still in existence somewhere.”’ “Indeed!” cried Page. ‘‘ But what is this new incident to which you refer? ”’ ‘ T will tell you,” said the young woman. ‘ Many years ago, it seems, the Magsman was acquainted with Jack Rann, the celebrated highwayman, who at that time had a beauti- ful mistress called Letitia Fluke. This female has since married a rich baronet, and her present name is Lade. About six months ago the Magsman met Lady Letitia, and instantly recognized her, although she was dressed in male attire; for it appears that she is a dashing horsewoman and frequently goes about dressed up as a man. I suppose that she and the Magsman must have conversed together in a confidential way, for in the course of their interview some- thing that he dropped induced the lady to ask further ques- tions, and this led to other proceedings. For, a few days afterward, she paid my father a visit, accompanied by a sporting gentleman whom she called Tim Meagles; and shortly afterward the Magsman arrived. I was turned out of the room; but I listened at the door, and I heard this Meagles make certain proposals to my father for the sur- render of the remaining half of the document which he held in his possession.”’ “Stop!” ejaculated Page, a thought striking him; and, turning over the contents of the pocketbook, he produced the short note written in a neat female hand, and the con- tents of which were as follows: Gomichbooks (E(0) m