The Argosy — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

102 Mrs. Raven's Temptation. ‘T wish I could hear the answers myself,” observed Mrs. Raven, with a suppressed eagerness of manner. ‘I suppose that is quite impossible.’’ “T don’t think so,” said Mr. Dewe. “That starred window opens at the top, and if we draw it down a little, you will hear the. voices well.” “And you might ask if the father of the missing boy is still living,” continued Mrs. Raven, in the most common-place manner, though she thought her breath would never hold out during those few words. ‘We can ask that, too,” said Mr. Creed. ‘‘ And now, madam, there is something else I must tell you. It may mean nothing at all. I only mention it because I do not choose to conceal aught from you, nor to penetrate into your confidence further than you desire. - You remember I wrote you word that it was a gentleman who came here on behalf of this Miss Agate. He was accompanied by your second son, Mr. Frank Raven.” | The widow’s pale face turned perceptibly paler this time. Some- thing like a spasm contracted her thin lips. Her voice shook as she spoke. ‘‘Who was the other gentleman ?” ‘“A Mr. Philip Connell, a young barrister—a very clever young man, I should fancy,” said the solicitor. ‘‘ He came here as an old friend of Miss Agate’s, empowered by her to make inquiries.” ‘‘Oh—that is my nephew—my husband’s nephew,” said Mrs. Raven; ‘Frank is staying with him. Was my son interested in this matter?” ‘It is impossible to say,” replied Mr. Creed. ‘The only remark he made during the interview was, that he had casually noticed our advertisement in the Hampshire paper because the date it named was that of his own birth. Mr. Dewe looked into the room accidentally, and recognised him from having seen him in the village when he waited on you at Ravenscourt.” “Did Frank see Mr. Dewe ?” asked the widow, rather quickly. No,” said Mr. Dewe, speaking for himself. ‘I am quite sure he did not. I do not suppose he has ever seen me.” “Tam glad of that,” observed Mrs. Raven, speaking with great deliberation. ‘‘It is not necessary that he should know anything of this affair. Heis but young yet, and rather flighty, and if he knew anything he would have to know all, and it might make him look upon some things in an unwholesome light. My eldest son and I came to that conclusion.” ‘“‘Of course we kept you and your instructions entirely out of sight,” said Mr. Creed. ‘* They ——” He was interrupted. A clerk handed in a card to him. ‘“‘ Here are the ladies,” said the lawyer, in a lowered tone. ‘“‘ Now, Mrs.’ Raven, if anything arises during our interview on which you want further information, touch that hand-bell, and I will wait upon you.” Mrs. Raven took up her station at the window between the rooms, and watched the two strangers as they entered the other one. It did Gomichookssco