The Argosy — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valeria. 197r Eustace thanked him hastily, left his card, and departed. He would post the letter before he slept he resolved, with a few lines of explanation that could betray nothing should it fall into the wrong hands. The door closed heavily behind him. It was answered unexpectedly by the clang of an area gate close at hand, and Eustace became aware of a portly female form wearing a black silk gown, and carrying a big basket, emerging from the lower regions of the house, and deliberately wending her way in the same direction as himself. Mrs. Margetts, the cook, having got the principal features of the dinner off her mind, and leaving the minor details to be filled in by the kitchen-maid, was taking her evening out. Cook was stout, and the basket heavy, so that she made but slow progress ; and Eustace, with a few steps, was able to overtake her. It would greatly have surprised the good soul if she could have known the shiver of distaste with which the handsome young clergy- man forced himself to stop and address her politely. “You are one of Lady Valeria Meynell’s servants, are you not? ” “Tam cook at her ladyship’s,” with an affable smile, shifting the basket to the other arm. ‘‘ And what may be your object in asking, sir?” ) ‘*] want some information about a person who was at the house to-day. I mean no harm’by the enquiry. I am a clergyman, anda friend of your mistress. Here is my card. If I apply to Lady Valeria I may make mischief, so I ask you.” Good Mrs. Margetts nodded and blinked at the card. ‘* What sort of a person might you be meaning, sir?” she asked, primly, with pinched lips. ‘*A youngish woman, dark, about your height, but thinner; with a pale complexion; in a dark cloak—lined with red.” ‘The last detail suddenly flashed across his memory. “O—h—h!” said Mrs. Margetts, with a long-drawn interjection of contempt, as she recognised the description. ‘‘ Was it 4e7, you was meaning ? ” : ““T suppose so. Who was she?” | ‘* Madame Euphrosyne. At least that’s what she calls herself.” **] want to know what she is doing at your house.” ‘Mending lace, that’s her trade, or she says so. It’s my belief she’s one of those who go round corn-cutting and enamelling. Not that we’ve any complexfons to make up at our house, thank goodness ! An uppish young person, with a black bag; who rings the visitors’ bell, and won’t wait in the hall if it was ever so.” Mr. Stannard nodded comprehension. ‘‘ How long has she been coming to see Lady Valeria ?” “That's more than I can tell you, sir. It began after Mr. Meynell’s death, I know. My lady went to France for a change. It was after she came home that we first saw Madame Euphrosyne about, and she’s been coming, on and off, ever since.” COMICHAoOoks (CO) im