Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

258 REYNOLDS’ WORKS plundered. But little did he imagine that poor Frank’s memory would be so good in recognizing those whom he had seen-in his earlier years. One day, two ladies whom he had met in the company of his mother at Everton Park, and also at St. James’s, appeared at court together. I know not who they could have been — ”’ “Lady Hesketh and her beautiful cousin Miss Villiers,” remarked Mrs Jameson. “ They must have been the two ladies to whom your lordship alludes. I will tell your lord- ship presently how they came to be acquainted with Lady Everton’s secret.”’ “Well,” continued the Marquis of Eagledean, “‘ as I was saying, Frank recognized that Lady Hesketh whom you have named, and her beautiful cousin Miss Villiers, when they appeared at court together. But although he thus recognized them, he knew not their names. They, as a matter of prudence, denied that they were acquainted with him, — denied indeed that they knew who he was, or had ever seen him before. Doubtless the report of his death had not reached their ears, or else they would- have seemed still more surprised. But certain it is that soon afterward Lord Petersfield thought it better to have Frank removed from a place where he might meet them again, and he accordingly transferred him to the service of Lady Saxondale, at whose mansion he was no doubt well aware that Lady Hesketh and Miss Villiers did not visit.” “Oh, what a ramification of treachery!” cried Mrs. Jameson, holding up her hands in astonishment and dismay. “Years have elapsed since any communication took place between these ladies and my mistress, for when Lady Everton resolved upon retiring to this seclusion in Wales, she broke off all her past friendships, resigned all her previous acquaint- ances.” ‘“ And therefore,” observed the marquis, “ Lord Peters- field entertained little fear that your poor mistress would learn from Lady Hesketh or Miss Villiers that her son Frank was really alive and had been seen in a menial capacity at the palace. But now, Mrs. Jameson, have the goodness to explain to me bho matters concerning which I am yet in the dark, — all that occurred, in short, from the time that I quitted England in the year 1828,” ‘““T will, my lord,’’ responded the old housekeeper, “ but Gomicbooks.co