Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

DISCOURSE 197 Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords will not suffer more of the details of your guilt to ooze out to the public knowledge than they can possibly help. They at least have the merit of shielding to the extent of their power the crimes of any one of their own order, lest the effects of the scandal should redound upon them all.” “But this paper— this document,” said the invalid, quivering nervously, “‘ who is to draw it up? When is it to be signed? ”’ “T will draw it up at once, and you shall sign it now,”’ was the response of the marquis. “ Rest assured I shall be found a competent witness, when the time comes, to present the papers before the Committee of Privileges. At all events, that is our affair, not yours. Where shall I find writing materials? ”’ The invalid pointed to a desk which stood upon a side- table. The marquis proceeded thither, opened the desk, sat down, and began to write. For about a quarter of an hour did he thus remain occupied, during which interval the thoughts of Mr. Everton were of such a harrowing, anguished description that they were almost a sufficient punishment for the tremendous iniquities which had stained his past career. When Lord Eagledean had finished draw- ing up the deed, which embodied a general confession of Everton’s proceedings in respect to his nephew, he read it slowly and deliberately over to that person, then, handing him the pen, he bade him sign it. ‘““Is it absolutely necessary? ”’ asked the invalid, gazing up with appealing earnestness into Lord Eagledean’s counte- nance. ‘‘Can no mercy be shown me? May I not at least retain my rank until death makes its appearance? Consider, Mr. Gunthorpe, — or whoever you may be, for methinks you are more than what you seem, — consider, I beseech and implore you, I am not long for this world. I feel as if the hand of death were already upon me. At the outside I cannot live many months, perhaps not many weeks; my days are doubtless numbered, I have experienced a shock, caused by the deliverance of that young man— _ But, oh, reflect, | conjure you, may not some mercy be shown me? for I spared his life.’’ ‘Mr. Everton,” interrupted the marquis, sternly, ‘‘to what a pitiable condition must you be reduced, to what _ CONnNIEDOOKS (C(O)