The Argosy — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valera. 185 “The difficulty of proving your mother’s first marriage? That would have been /zs affair surely,” suggested Eustace, who, to tell the truth, had been much exercised by the apparent inconsistencies of the situation. “Tf he could, I’d take his hand and acknowledge him before the whole world. No, it can never be done. ‘The man he calls his father knew he was free. Knew it so well, that he dared to leave my mother without another message or sign. Dared openly, not many years after, to marry another woman, and this man knows it.” Lady Valeria had hinted as much, Eustace could not but admit; though then he had taken refuge in unbelief. Even now he determined not to be convinced, but mentally marked that point for future exam- ination. “How did this Magrath come by your mother’s letter, do you suppose ? Will you give me something safer than paper to enclose this precious parcel? What a stroke of impudent cleverness it was to make us the custodians. He knows it’s safe and accessible, and pre- vents us making any attempt to deprive him of it.” There was a small, soft leather case with a lock in Meynell’s writing-table drawer. He gave it to Eustace, who locked the little parcel inside and handed the key to the banker. He was purposely avoiding discussion till the wine which he had poured out and pressed on Meynell should have done its work. He had taken one glass distastefully, then held it to be refilled. It was fine, delicate, yet generous wine, brought in their honour from the secret recesses of the famous Meynell cellar. Port of the sunny vintage days when this century was in the young twen- ties. Not to be lightly squandered on Lady Valeria’s clerical friends, nor even the Brants. Lord Charles was a blue ribbon, and affected new-fashioned, fizzing messes, and her ladyship anything gassy and sweet that called itself champagne. The sun and grape of Portugal did their work well this day. ‘What can we do?” asked Oliver, his voice steadying as a pinker shade dawned on his pallid cheek. ‘Is it possible you see a gleam of hope forme? Id give twice that any day to prove that this villain and my mother have nothing in common. Do you—can you believe that that letter is not hers?” ‘Tell me, have you ever seen that ring before? Think of it and try hard to remember. A sardonyx, and a very fine one; a deep orange, flecked with brown ; (Eustace had had his gem-collecting fever in his time) and the setting—this,” he pencilled the outline on paper ; but Meynell only shook his head. ‘‘ Never that I know of.” » “ Thave, I firmly believe, while by his own showing that man was still in America. Think again. Never on your mother’s hand ?” “ Never!” spoke Meynell, positively this time. ‘I know the rings she used to wear, and this was never one.” — “Then she must have put it on for a special purpose the second evening I met her. I seem to see it clearly. How her rings slid COnnicoooks (CO)