The Argosy — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

7 2 The Eve of St. Partridge. “Ves, off and on. I knew her when she was Julia Anson,” ‘She is charming; positively, absolutely charming!” exclaimed Algy Merrick enthusiastically. His strong encomium, however, only called forth a quick, sharp flash from Arthur’s dark eyes, then he half closed them again, and knocking the ashes out of his pipe, he stalked off to bed without vouchsafing another word. ‘“ (ueer fellow, Arthur Seymour,” said one of the party when he had closed the door. ‘* He is so spasmodic.” ‘‘Got something on his mind,” remarked another man, “ he is as mysterious as Mrs. Bulmer, for say what he likes I feel sure there isa mystery about her and am not so certain that Master Arthur is not mixed up in it.” ‘Arthur Seymour is not to be allowed to carry off that fair young beauty as a prize for silence, if that is what you mean,” cried Algy Merrick. ‘‘ Why he has not got a rap.” “And you, Algy?” laughed the former speaker. ‘‘ Yet I shrewdly suspect you have intentions.” “Oh! I—well I have not much money certainly, but I have. expectations and—-— ” “Come, Ill bet you fifty pounds that Arthur has a better chance than you have.” ‘“ Done,” and Algy Merrick threw up his head, twirled his moustache, and tried to look the thorough lady-killer he believed himself to be. And very good-looking he certainly was in his blue velvet smoking suit with its ruffles of old point. There was a good deal of laughing over the wager, which was duly booked, and the lookers-on strolled off to bed in full expectation of having some sport that Partridge-tide, which would not come within ‘the range of their double-barrelled Mantons. Before the clock had struck twelve, all the male inmates of the house had been told of the wager, which was of course to be care- fully guarded from the ladies and Arthur. The host naturally was also excluded, but then he was old, and a cypher—merely the host. Meantime the fair object of all this intrigue had taken off the gauzy white dress in which she had played such havoc with Algy Merrick’s heart, and attired in a pale grey dressing-gown, her fair hair forming a natural veil about her shoulders, was sitting by the window gazing for the most part on the starry firmament, though every now and then she turned the page of a book which was lying on her knee. Mrs. Bulmer had evidently no intention of seeking repose. Her own thoughts seemed to keep her very wakeful, and as she sat there her face, though a bright and joyous one, had obviously for a time been touched by some sorrow which rendered her pensive, almost sad. One o’clock struck by the little clock on the mantel-piece of her room. For at least half an hour she had not moved. Now she got up, looked out for a second or two into the silent night, and finally closed the window. Just as she did so, a little tap came at the door. Gomicbooksnco