Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

78 REYNOLDS’ WORKS your rank, all will give a colouring to the statement. We may eawesd devise some means to dispose of the boy Frank.” ‘Sir John Marston, are you mad? ”’ ejaculated the noble- man, becoming white as a sheet. : The baronet was about to reply, when the door opened, and a footman entered, bearing a card, and intimating that the gentleman whose name it described sought an jee interview. ‘Mr. Gunthorpe? ” said Lord Petersfield, instantaneously recovering his self-possession on the entrance of the servant, and therewith his habitual reserve and caution. ‘‘ I do not think — but of course I should not like to say positively — that I am acquainted with any one bearing the name of Gunthorpe. However he had better come up; Sir John Marston, you can retire into my private cabinet for a few minutes.”’ The baronet accordingly proceeded into a small adjoining room which Lord Petersfield indicated, and almost immedi- ately afterward Mr. Gunthorpe made his appearance. Lord Petersfield bowed coldly and stiffly, for he thought that his visitor was some citizen dwelling on the eastern side of Temple Bar, and his lordship had a most haughty contempt and supreme disgust for everybody of that description. Mr. Gunthorpe stared very hard at the nobleman, and then said, ‘“‘ I presume that I am addressing Lord Peters- field? ” “ Really, Mr. Gunthorpe, I am not prepared, — that is to say, I do not think I ought to answer a question so point- edly put. I may be Lord Petersfield, and indeed, aiter due deliberation, I think I may venture to say that I am, with every proviso requisite under such circumstances.’ Mr. Gunthorpe first looked surprised, then indignant, and then disgusted at the nobleman’s answer, and deliber- atelv taking a seat, he said, ‘‘ You had better sit down, ~my lord, for I desire to have a very serious conversation with you.”’ “ And pray, Mr. Gunthorpe, who may you be? ” asked the nobleman, as he gravely and slowly deposited himself in his armchair. ‘‘ Don’t be in a hurry to answer, take time — to reflect.’’ ‘It needs no time for an honest man to proclaim himseli Gomichbooks (E(0)