The Argosy — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. 105 public grounds; that is, public to us. Many matters, grievously inconvenient and distressing, occur in private life of which we can take no cognizance whatever.” ‘¢ Frank,” said the minister, ‘‘did you tell Mr. Jones of the night- alarm we had in my house ?” “TI did not see any necessity for doing that, sir. It was not my affair, either,” he added, with a glance at Philip. ‘Tt was nothing—nothing at all,” said Philip. ‘‘ A shadow and a fancy.” ‘Then there can be no harm in speaking of it,” pursued his father, turning to the deeply interested officer. ‘‘ [his packet must have come into my house by some means, Mr. Jones; there can be “no doubt of that. And only two nights ago we were certainly threatened with some nocturnal molestation.” And Mr. Connell told the story down to the smallest detail of circumstance. ‘T am glad you have told me this, sir,” spoke the detective, who had been busy with his note-book. ‘I suppose there is no person in your own house of whom you can have any suspicion? ‘The ser- vants are honest and trustworthy ?” “Quite so. One has been with us twenty years. The other is a simple, respectable young girl.” ‘‘H’m,” said the detective, still writing. ‘‘ Well, we will do our best.” “If this portmanteau was taken away yesterday,” Frank cried, speaking out without any preface, after the manner of those greatly wrapt in their own reflections, “that only shifts the question a little back. If she could not have carried it away herself to-day, she could not have carried it yesterday.” ‘‘ Ah, we are making inquiries as to that, too,” answered Mr. Jones. ‘“ But these things take a little time. You may rely, gentle- men, on our leaving no point unnoticed—or unexamined.” And so, after a little more discussion, the interview ended. Frank’s thoughts were busy. If that good man, his uncle, was to help and advise, ought he not to know all? Little as Mr. Connell had said, Frank somehow had learned to put faith in him. “Uncle,” he said, in a low voice, as the three went together into the library, before joining the evening circle, ‘‘ when I was talking with the detective just now, I felt sorry that I had not told you about the paper which was enclosed with the gold.” Mr. Connell turned towards him with a faint flush on his wan cheeks. He was keenly sensitive, as introspective scholars often are. ‘Never mind, my boy,” he said, kindly. ‘I remember that youth often has strange and unaccountable silences.” I'rank went on in so low a voice, that Philip could not catch his words. ‘When that woman told me what you know, she added some advice. The paper I got this evening bore on that.” He handed it to Mr. Connell. The lamp was burning very low, CORMICOAOOKS.EO