Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER II A TRAGEDY Ir was about half-past eight o’clock on this same evening of which we are speaking, that Mr. Gunthorpe and William Deveril set out on foot from a hotel at Gainsborough, where they had arrived during the afternoon, and they proceeded along the bank of the river toward Saxondale Castle. The sun had gone down half an hour previously, the twilight was waning, the dusk was setting in, but by the appearance of the evening there was no probability of the darkness being so great as to render the walk by the side of the Trent at all dangerous. Deveril, moreover, had been there before, and perfectly remembered the various features of the route. “I wonder whether the fellow Chiffin will keep his ap- pointment,”’ said Mr. Gunthorpe, after they had walked a considerable distance, and it was now past nine o’clock. ‘“T think there can be no doubt of it,’’ replied Deveril. “The man is evidently one who will do anything for money, and the prospect of receiving a large reward from you, sir, will win him over to our interests. But really I am quite ashamed when I think of all the trouble you are taking on my behalf, and what is more still, all the money you are spending. ’ ‘“ Stuff and nonsense! ”’ ejaculated Mr. Gunthorpe, petu- lantly. ‘“‘ How often am I to tell you not to address me in that way? If you ever speak to me again in such terms, I shall think that you mean intentionally to offend me.” “No, my dear sir, you cannot think that, because you know it to be impossible. On the contrary, you would - doubtless consider it very extraordinary if I did not express all my gratitude toward you. Ah! it was here,” suddenly exclaimed Deveril, “‘ that I rescued that strange woman 9 GoOmicdoo <S (C(O)