Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

LOVE - AFFAIRS 291 she should know it. I remember also that when I told her I had never set foot in Saxondale Castle in my hfe, she gave vent to such singular ejaculations, and looked at me with an expression of countenance that I never can forget. I besought her to explain herself; I told her that she was torturing me cruelly, — that by her looks and her language she was piling up mystery upon mystery, and yet she would not relieve me from suspense. But this was not all. When I spoke of those overtures which Lady Saxondale had made to me, she adjured me in the most solemn manner to tell her the truth, whether [ had really rejected them. ‘Then - how suddenly satisfied and even pleased did she seem when I gave her a positive answer.”’ “It is strange — most strange,’ said the Marquis of Hagledean, in a musing tone. “‘ No conjecture can possibly penetrate that woman’s meaning, or fathom the mystery. But still those visits which she paid to Saxondale House, — for there can be no mistake as to the identity of the woman whom Frank saw with that of the woman of whom you are speaking, — those visits, I say, would seem to show that she has some intimate knowledge of Lady Saxondale’s affairs, and hence her perseverance in questioning you. Yes, William, there is evidently some profound and important secret which your poor father vainly endeavoured to reveal on his death-bed, which the manager Thompson was like- wise acquainted with, and of which this singular woman has some inkling. Well, the 21st is not very far distant now, and then we shall see whether the woman will keep the appointment. I have promised to be with you at the time, my dear William, and I shall not fail. But here we are at the spot where I bade the coachman halt.”’ GOMIIGDOOkKsS (C(O)