The Argosy — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

_ 120 Featherston’s Story. ‘ Douai?” exclaimed Nancy. ‘‘ That’s the place where the great law courts are, is it not? Don’t you remember the man last year, Lavinia, who committed some dreadful crime, and was taken up to Douai to be tried at the Assizes there ?” ‘We have a great case coming on there as soon as the Courts meet,” said the stranger, who seemed a talkative man; “and that’s what I am at Douai for. A case of extensive swindling.” ‘“You are a lawyer, I presume,” said Miss Preen. The stranger nodded. ‘ Being the only one of our London firm who can speak French readily, and we are four of us in it, I had to come over and watch this affair and wait for the trial. For the young fellow is an Englishman, I am sorry to say, and his people, worthy and well-to-do merchants, are nearly mad over it.” ‘ But did he commit it in England ?” cried Miss Preen. ‘Oh, no; in France; within the arrondissement of the Douai Courts. He is in prison there. I daresay you get some swindling in a pretty way even at Sainteville,” added the speaker. ‘That we do,” put in Nancy. ‘ An English family of ladies ran away only yesterday, owing twenty pounds at least, it 1s said.” “ Ah.” said the stranger with a smile. “I think the ladies are sometimes more clever at that game than the men. By the way,” he went on briskly, ‘‘do you know a Mr. Dangerfield at Sainte- ville?” “No,” replied Lavinia, ‘“ He is staying here, I believe, or has been.” ‘‘Not that I know of,” said Lavinia. ‘I never heard his name.” “Changed it again probably,” carelessly observed the young man. ‘Ts Dangerfield not his true name, then?” ‘ Just as much as it is mine, madam. His real name is Fennel ; but he has found it convenient to drop that on occasion.” Now it was a curious fact that Nancy did not hear the name which the stranger had given as the true one. Her attention was diverted by some men who were working at the mud in the harbour, for it was low water, and who were loudly disputing together. Nancy had moved to the side of the pier to look down at them. “Is he a swindler, that Mr. Dangerfield ?” asked she, half turning her head to speak. But the stranger did not answer. As to Lavinia, the avowal had struck her speechless. She glanced at Captain Fennel: he had his back to them, and stood immovable, apparently unconcerned, possibly not having heard. A thought struck her—and frightened her. “Do you know that Mr. Dangerfield yourself?” she asked the stranger, ina tone of indifference. ‘No, I do not,” he said, “but there’s a man coming over in yonder boat who does.” COMIC OOOlKS. CO —_—