The Argosy — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 93 The solicitor looked up. Nobody but a rising man would be so outspoken. ‘ Not long to remain such,” he said, graciously. And then Mr. Creed looked at Mr. Philip Connell, and Mr. Philip Connell looked at Mr. Creed. Questions would have to be asked, and neither wished to ask the first, lest 1t might convey some infor- mation really more valuable than the answer to be received. ‘Though I am a barrister,” began Philip Connell, ‘“‘ you must view me in this matter only as a private gentleman ; a clergyman, say, or a family doctor. In short, anybody with a trained discretion and a sense of honour might have been asked to do the duty I am now discharging.” The solicitor bowed. ‘I understand,” he said. “You had an advertisement in yesterday’s papers,” commenced Philip. That was a perfectly safe observation, while absolute silence was growing awkward. ‘‘We had,” said Mr. Mee! quite at his ease so far. ‘Also in a Hampshire paper of the day before?” Philip remarked. ‘© We had,” said Mr. Creed again; but with a perceptible guarding of face, which reminded Frank forcibly of the innocent hypocrisies of the childish game of “ hide and seek.” “May I ask what is the significance of that advertisement ?” in- quired Philip, as airily as if he quite expected a frank answer. “May I ask what reason you have for being interested therein ?” returned Mr. Creed. ‘‘T am entrusted to make this inquiry by a person who has reason to attach a very deep significance to the date mentioned in your advertisement,” said Philip. ‘‘I presume that the date is the date of an occurrence.” Mr. Creed bowed. ‘Doubtless the date of many occurrences,” he said with a smile. At this moment the door of the room was opened, and shut again so quickly, that neither Philip nor Frank saw who it was that had looked in. “But I presume,” pursued Philip, ‘‘that you announce that date in hopes of eliciting a response from some one or other to whom it bears a special meaning.” ‘‘ That is the natural inference,” avowed Mr. Creed. The door was opened again; this time by the dapper clerk. He amnounced that Mr. Dewe wished to speak with his partner for a moment. Mr. Creed apologised and withdrew. He was absent fully five minutes: and when he came back he looked sharply at Frank. ‘That is to say, he looked at him, for all Mr. Creed’s looks were sharp. “Am I asking too much if I inquire whether this date has any special significance in the county of Hampshire ?” resumed Philip. “Hampshire!” said Mr. Creed, rather tartly, ‘“‘what makes you think of Hampshire ?” cConmmicooolks (CO)