The Argosy — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valeria. 13 my card to your mistress she will see me directly,” said Edric, ignoring the social fiction. ! “Tt is of no use, sir. My lady won’t see anybody.” The man looked injured, as if he had just been going over all the ground before that day. ‘She has returned from Folkestone, I know,” Edric persisted, won- dering if a sovereign would clear the way for him. The butler read his thoughts, but he had a conscience. “T really can’t help it, sir,” he said, deprecatingly. ‘‘ My lady is very ill and can on no account be disturbed. I’m sure I’d gladly do anything in my power,” he added, in the forlorn hope that Edric might possibly take the will for the deed. “Can I see Mr. Meynell?” after a moment’s pondering. “T don’t know, sir. You'd better enquire in the City,” making a sudden desperate attempt to rid himself of the pertinacious intruder as a gentleman emerged from the gloom of the hall within. He bestowed a withering glance on the butler, who stood aside resigned to fate, and advanced with a look of sour dignity to dis- pose himself of Edric, who held obstinate possession of the door- mat. | “ Lady Valeria Meynell is quite unequal to receiving visitors to-day,” he announced, stiffly, giving no invitation to enter. “Can you tell me wez she will be able to see me? It is ona very serious matter that I have to speak to her,” Edric asked, recognising the gentleman he had met at Folkestone (“‘ my son Oliver,” she had called him), Mr. Meynell recognised him too, and with no friendly sentiments. “Tam sorry to say I cannot,” he replied, stiffly. ‘T should like to send her a note or message—if I knew what to wy." The butler disappeared at a sign from his master, who stood grimly and discouragingly attentive while Edric extracted a pencil and began a few words on the back of his card, crossed them out, looked blankly at the banker, tried again and gave it up. ‘““T don’t quite see how to put it. Perhaps I had better get you to give a message. Lady Valeria asked me to do something for her, and I can’t; that’s all. If she will see me I'll explain why.” The look on Mr. Meynell’s face of suspicious disfavour grew darker, but he only bowed gravely. “You'll be sure to give it?” Edric asked, as he moved off. Mr. Meynell’s mouth twitched impatiently. ‘ I—ah—I must beg that you will leave it to my discretion. I cannot promise.” “But it’s serious. It’s uxcommonly serious. If you won’t promise I shall have to get her told some other way. Of course if she’s too ill—but that makes it all the more serious.” ‘‘] think you may trust me to do the best I can for my mother,” Mr. Meynell spoke in grave rebuke. ‘‘ Good-day.” Conniclboooks (CO)