The Argosy — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

362 Verena Fontaine’s Rebellion. he tookup his station opposite Pym’s lodgings—which seemed to be empty—and stayed, watching, until close upon nine_o’clock, when he saw Pym enter them. Before he had time to go across, the landlady began to close the shutters ; while she was doing it, Captain Taner- ton came up, and went in. Captain Tanerton came out in a minute or two, and walked quickly back up the street: he, Sir Dace, would have gone after him to ask him whether Verena was indoors with Pym, or not, but the Captain’s steps were too fleet for him. Sir Dace then crossed over, opened the street door, and entered Pym’s parlour. A short, sharp quarrel ensued. Pym was in liquor, and— consequently—insolent. In the heat of passion Sir Dace—he was a strong man then—seized Pym’s arm, and shook him. Pym flew at him in return like a tiger, twisted his wrist round, and tore his shirt. Sir Dace was furious then; he struck him a powerful blow on the head—behind the ear no doubt, as the surgeons testified afterwards —and Pym fell. Leaving him there, Sir Dace quitted the house quietly, never glancing at the thought that the blow could be fatal. But, when seated in a cab on the way home, the idea suddenly occurred to him—what if he had killed Pym? The conviction, though he knew not why, or wherefore, that he had killed him, took hold of him, and he went into his house, a terrified man. ‘The rest was known, the manuscript went on to say. He allowed people to remain in the belief that he had not been out of doors that night: though how bitterly he repented not having declared the truth at the time, none could know, save God. He now, a dying man, about to appear before that God, who had been full of mercy to him, declared that this was the whole truth, and he further declared that he had no intention whatever of injuring Pym; all he thought was, to knock him down for his insolence. He hoped the world would forgive him, though he had never forgiven himself; and he prayed his daughters to forgive him, especially Verena. He would counsel her to return to the West Indies, and marry George Bazalgette. That ended the declaration: and an astounding surprise it must have been to most of the eager listeners. But not one ventured to make any comment on it, good or bad. The legacy to John Taner- ton was understood now. Verena crossed the room as we were filing out, and put her two hands into his. ‘“‘T have had a dreadful fear upon me that it was papa,” she whis- pered to him, the tears running down her cheeks. ‘‘ Nay, worse than a fear: a conviction. I think you have had the same, Captain Tanerton, and that you have generously done your best to screen him ; and I thank you with my whole heart.” ‘“‘ But, indeed,” began Jack—and pulled himself up, short. ‘Let me tell you all,” said Verena. ‘‘I saw papa come in that night: I mean to our lodgings in the Marylebone Road, so I knew he had been out. It was just past ten o’clock ; Ozias saw him too— but he is silent and faithful. I did not want papa to see me ; fate, I ECOPMICLIOO KS5 (Efe) m