Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

236 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “The blackest iniquities have been perpetrated,” said the marquis, with bitter vehemence, “‘ but until this mo- ment I did not even suspect their fullest extent. And now let me hasten to ask you a question. Does Lady Everton know that her son Adolphus is yet alive? ”’ Mrs. Jameson gave a wild start, and then sinking back in the chair, gazed in speechless astonishment upon the Marquis of Hagledean. She evidently knew not what to think, and by the expression of her countenance it was appar- ent that she feared his reason was unsettled. “No, my good woman, — faithful dependent of your mistress that I am sure you have been, — I am not deceived — Iam not: deceiving you. It is another truth that I pro- claim, Adolphus lives, and what is more, his rights are ac- knowledged! Yes, his villainous uncle has abandoned the title and estates which he had usurped.” “Then, may God be thanked!’ said the old woman, in a tone of the profoundest piety. ‘“‘ There may yet be happiness in this world for my poor mistress,’ and having thus spoken, she clasped her hands together, raised her venerable countenance, and the prayer of thanksgiving, which she said inwardly, wavered upon her thin lips. “T see that we have much to talk about, — many things to converse upon,’ resumed the marquis, after a pause, ‘ere the intelligence be broken to your mistress that her son is alive and that I am within these walls. In a few words let me likewise explain to you that our two children, Eliza- beth and Frank, are well and happy. They are beneath my roof in the neighbourhood of London — But again you survey me with the deepest amazement?” ~ ‘“ Because, my lord, it has this moment become your turn,” replied Mrs. J suse ths “to reveal another phase in that scheme of villainy which has been practised toward my poor mistress. Four years have elapsed since she was assured in a letter from her brother-in-law that poor Frank was no more, and that Elizabeth, having inherited his fortune according to the terms of your lordship’s trust deed, was dissipating it rapidly, as she had already dissipated her own, amongst the profligate and dissolute.’’ ‘All false, abominably, atrociously false!’’ ejaculated the marquis, springing up from his chair, and beginning to pace the apartment in a terrible state of excitement and rage. Gomichbooks (E(o}