Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

DISCOURSE 189 not to accompany me. I will break to her the circumstance that he is alive —if she herself be indeed ignorant of it. In short, upon my interview with Lady Everton so much depends that my incognito must be preserved, and it must not be known that it is the Marquis of Kagledean who is thus visiting her in her retirement. Remember, therefore, my dear children, that you treat me for the present as plain Mr. Gunthorpe, as your friend, and not as your father, as your benefactor, working out an eccentric whim which has made him take a fancy to you both, and not as the parent who in due time will ensure your worldly welfare. Now, have you both strength of mind to master your feelings in the presence of others? ”’ Elizabeth and Frank both gave the requisite assurances, and the marquis resumed his discourse. ‘The vile and atrocious treatment which you have both received at the hands of Lord Petersfield and Sir John Marston can be easily accounted for. There can be no doubt that, from the very first, those two men came to an understanding with each other and doubtless also with the full connivance and concurrence of the usurper Everton himself. Indeed, it is not difficult to conceive that Sir John Marston said to that villain Everton, ‘ Leave me and Peters- field to appropriate to ourselves the fortunes of these chil- dren; and you on your side play your own game to become possessed of the title and estates properly belonging to Adolphus.’ Then, when you came of age, Elizabeth, a husband bearing a noble name was found for you; and no doubt the document which you signed, and over which the notary spread his blotting-paper, was a general release to your guardians, and an acknowledgment of the receipt of your fortune. On the presentation of that document to the bankers, the money would be paid over to them. In repect to yourself, Frank, there can be no difficulty in reading the mystery. A tale of your death was invented, so that your fortune devolved to your sister, and by virtue of the same deed which she had previously signed, or per- haps by a forgery, your fortune likewise fell into the hands of the villains Petersfield and Marston. Indeed, there must have been forgeries committed, — forgeries of documents to prove your death; and it is but too evident that the school- master at Southampton was well bribed to enter into the plot. CONNIE DOOKS (F(©)