The Argosy — page 387: what you’re looking at

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

In a Dangerous Stratt. 369 “You have given us a treat, M. de Fontenay,” Mrs. Haviland said, looking up; “but I fear Gilbert has been sadly inattentive to your music. He is fascinated by these pictures.” * By the way, Haviland, I find there is one I have omitted to bring,” their visitor remarked—“ not a photograph, but an engraving, which I wish to have copied in facsimile. However, you will see it when next you call. Suppose you come and dine with me to- morrow evening, if you have no other engagement. And now,” he continued, ‘I will take my leave. Au revoir, madame, and thanks for a delightful evening.” He shook hands with her cordially, but to Janet he merely bowed, with an exaggerated deference in which there seemed a touch of irony. When Gilbert returned to the sitting-room after showing out their guest, he found his cousin alone. She was standing at the table, looking absently at the scattered photographs. ‘*Congratulate me on my good fortune, Jeanie,” he began. “This commission gives me just the sort of work I was longing for.” “IT am pleased you have the commission, but sorry it came from M. de Fontenay,” she replied. “ Oh, you are incorrigible!” he exclaimed, in a tone of vexation. “Will it remove your prejudice against him, Jeanie, if I tell you that he saved me from ruin?” She started, looking at him in wondering inquiry. He nodded gravely. “It is a fact. To explain it I must tell you what I have hitherto kept a secret, even from my mother. Ever since my father died, Janet, I have been struggling under a debt, which, Quixotically perhaps, I took upon myself to save his memory from dishonour. The money had been borrowed from Screwton, the attorney, who promised to give me time to repay it in instalments. About a month ago, however, he came down upon me by demanding payment in full, under a threat of legal proceedings. I was at my wits’ end, not knowing where to turn for help, when de Fontenay came to my rescue “ ‘* How did he know of it?” interrupted Janet. “ He heard of it from Screwton—he knows him. De Fontenay, in the most delicate and friendly manner, came to me with an offer of assistance. He would not hear of my refusing it; he insisted upon advancing me sufficient money to discharge the debt in full.” Janet drew in her lips, looking perplexed and uneasy. “Did it strike you that such generosity was extraordinary on the part of a comparative stranger?” “It would have been from anyone else; but de Fontenay is liberal and open-handed to a fault.” “So now he is your creditor instead of Mr. Screwton? I would rather you were in the attorney’s power than nis Gilbert. How much was the debt?” > comicbooks.con=