Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

76 REYNOLDS’ WORKS mad. Marlow never happened to describe her person to mes ‘ But did you not recollect her? ’’ inquired Sir John. ‘“T never saw her since her earliest childhood,’’ answered the nobleman. ‘‘ When I took Frank to school at South- ampton, I carefully avoided seeing Elizabeth. She was then sixteen, and.therefore if she had seen me, she would have remembered me again, which I was naturally anxious to avoid. Ah! this is indeed most threatening. What could she have come hither for? I can’t make it out. It was assuredly she. The description in this newspaper is lifelike: handsome but largely chiseled features, full lips, somewhat coarse and richly red, teeth white as ivory, olive complexion, a somewhat bold and hardy gaze, a voice strong, but not harsh, and with flutelike tones— Yes, to be sure, it is the same. It is beyond all doubt.”’ “ But upon what pretence did she come? ’’ demanded ‘he baronet. ‘‘ Consider — reflect. You must tax your memory; it is important we should know. It may enable us to form an idea of the extent of the clue which she possesses.’’ “Ah! a suspicion strikes me,’ ejaculated Petersfield. “On that very same day, I recollect full well now, her brother Frank was here, and he happened to see that portrait of Lady Everton which was published in the ‘ Court Beauties.’ Stop a moment.”’ With these words Lord Petersfield hurried from the room, but in less than a minute he returned, holding a book open in his hand, and advancing up to the baronet, he showed him where a leaf had been abstracted, exclaiming, “ Yes, it 1s gone.”’ ‘Then rest assured, my lord,’ replied Sir John Marston, ‘“ that they are thoroughly upon the right track, and having discovered who their mother is, they will discover all the rest. There will be a terrific exposure. And now, what is to be done? ”’ ‘What is to be done indeed?’’ said Lord Petersfield, pacing the room in considerable agitation, all his studied reserve being scattered to the winds, and his natural feelings triumphing over cold artificiality. “Yes, what is to be done? ”’ repeated the baronet. “ You are rich, my lord, you have feathered your nest well in various diplomatic services, and you can perhaps afford to Gomicbooks (E(0)