The Argosy — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

The Master of Greylands. 267 I ought to be doing ! What would you like to have prepared for dinner ma'am ?” “T could not eat—lI feel feverish too,” was the answer, given in an accent that had a ring of piteous wail. ‘I will take but some tea and a tartine when I have made the tisane.” Mrs. Bent opened her eyes. ‘Tea and a tart, did you Say, ma'am ?” ‘‘T said—I mean bread-and-butter,” explained the stranger, trans- lating her French word. ‘¢ And—what name—if I may ask, ma’am ? continued Mrs. Bent, as a final question. “T am Madame Guise.” The small saucepan and the herbs came up immediately, brought by Molly, who said she was to stay and help make the stuff, if the lady required her. The lady seemed to be glad of her help, and showed her how to pick the dried leaves from the thicker stalks. ‘Do you have travellers staying here often ?’’ asked Madame Guise, standing by Molly and doing her own portion of the work. “ A’most never in winter, mum,” replied Molly—a round-eyed, red- cheeked, strong-looking damsel, attired in a blue linsey skirt and a cotton handkerchief crossed on her neck. ‘ We had a gentleman for a week or two at the turn o’ January. He had this here same bed- room.” “ They were his things, doubtless, that your mistress said she was removing to make space for me.” “In course they were,” replied Molly. ‘‘ Master said he’d not have this room used—that the coats and things should stay in it; but missis takes her own way. This here stalk, mum—is he too big to go ; ine” ‘‘ That 1s : we must have only the little ones. What was the gentle- man’s name, Mollee?” ‘“‘“Hfe was young Mr. Castlemaine: a foreign gentleman, so to Say ; nephew to the one at Greylands’ Rest. He came over here to put in his claim to the money and lands.” ‘¢ And where did he go ?—where is he now?” questioned Madame Guise, with an eagerness that might have betrayed her painful inte- rest, had the servant’s suspicions been on the alert. ‘It’s what my master would just give his head to know,” was the answer, ‘‘ He went into the Friars Keep one moonlight night, and never came out on’t again.” “Never come out of it again!” echoed Madame Guise.” What do you mean ?—How was that?” Bit by bit, Molly revealed the whole story, together with sundry items of the superstition attaching to the Friar’s Keep. _Madame, Guise sat down in a chair, her hands clasped before her, and forgetting the herbs. COMIC OOOKS. EO