The Argosy — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valeria. 181 “The distinction of being openly acknowledged as a relation would be much to me, I confess,” said Magrath, with a wave of his hand. **T may have cherished my small ambitions with respect to a position in English society, to which I trust I should have been found equal. But since, for family reasons which we have agreed not to discuss, this has been deemed inadvisable, I submit. I do not even ask to see my sister Mabel. I should have liked to have seen Mabel,” he repeated, regretfully drawing out one end of his silky moustache to a point, “butlet that go. You offer me the £416,000 in full of all demands, with this gentleman for witness, and I accept.” ‘And what security do you offer that this is to be the last of your claim ?” asked Eustace. “Sir! Do you reflect that you are speaking to a man of honour?” demanded Magrath, sternly, though with a comical twinkle in his eye that seemed to express his enjoyment of his own performance. “Perfectly. But Z speak as a man of business, you see. There may follow demands from—if not you—your heirs or representatives some day for arrears of rent—no one knows what—unless you make us safe against it.” Magrath gave him another of those good-humoured, twinkling glances, so oddly at variance with his exalted bearing, but replied in the same tone of injured feeling: ‘‘Had you honoured me with your attention for a few moments longer, I would have explained how I propose to place in the hands of my brother forthwith every token of my identity. My mother’s letters, my dead father’s ring and watch, his portrait and any further possessions of his which I may be able to obtain from America. What more can I do than give him the means of destroying my identity for ever if he shall so please ?” He extended his hand, on which was a massive signet ring, a sar- donyx with a peculiar setting. ‘‘It has names, dates, &c., inside,” he explained. ‘‘ wear the watch and chain. I have a fancy that I should like to keep that if you did not mind. The crest and cypher should be taken off, and there is nothing else remarkable about them, you can see. Then,” feeling in his breast-pocket and producing a faded blue velvet case with a cipher in gold on the back, “ we need not open this ; the likeness would speak strongly to anyone who had known the original, but will tell you nothing. There, behold my inheritance! A valueless one but for the knowledge in my brother’s possession, and this.” He drew out a pocket-book and selected a paper, which he care- fully unfolded and laid before Eustace, who recognised the writing before he read one word. He looked at Oliver for permission, but as he still stood silent and impassive, his face half concealed by his hand, he read :— ‘Oliver, my dearly loved and much wronged son, have pity on me. With the full knowledge of the love I bear you has come the full CoOnnicoooks (CO) im