Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

82 REYNOLDS’ WORKS overwhelmed, almost annihilated, and after remaining in utter consternation and dismay for a few minutes, he gave vent to his grief in tears. “That will be a shocking account,’ observed Sir John Marston, with an ill-subdued malignity, “‘ for you to forward to that nobleman whose friend and confidant you are.”’ ‘Villain!’ ejaculated Mr. Gunthorpe, suddenly dashing away the tears from his eyes and turning his indignant looks upon the baronet, “ all this must be your work, and vours also, my lord. Had you both performed your duty toward that young woman, she never could have been forced into such ways as these. But there shall be vengeance and punishment for your iniquities.’’ Thus speaking, Mr. Gunthorpe sprang up from his seat, and was hurriedly quitting the room, when Sir John Marston called out, “‘ Stop, you had better do nothing rash! Remem- ber, the honour of Lady Everton may be at stake.” Mr. Gunthorpe was struck by the circumstance thus announced, and which for the moment he had forgotten. He did therefore stop short, and returning to the chair he had so abruptly left, sat down and reflected for upwards of a minute. ‘“T find,’ he said at length, “‘ that I have to deal with villains of no ordinary stamp. Yes, you are right, Sir John Marston; there can be no exposure, no vengeance. But rest assured that punishment of another kind will overtake both yourself and your accomplice, Lord Petersfield. Your conscience, Sir John Marston, and yours likewise, my lord, will not suffer you to remain for ever indifferent to this signal iniquity which you have perpetrated. I leave you, therefore, to the enjoyment of your ill-gotten gains, to the pangs of remorse which sooner or later will inevitably over- take you. I leave you to all the consequences of a guilt which Heaven cannot suffer to go unpunished.”’ Having thus spoken in accents of a withering bitterness, Mr. Gunthorpe rose from his seat and quitted the room. ‘There, you see how splendidly I have managed it! ”’ exclaimed Sir John Marston, the moment the door closed behind the old gentleman. ‘“ We are safe-— we are safe. { feel more at ease than I have done for a long, long time past.”’ Lord Petersfield, now beginning to breathe freely, re- Gomichbooks (E(0)