The Argosy — page 296: what you’re looking at

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

The Story of Charles Strange. 273 ‘Oh, it is the London servants you suspect, then, or one of them ?” ‘ Took here,” said Dr. Macferraty, dropping his voice and bending forward in his chair till his face almost touched Mr. Ravensworth’s : ‘“‘that the deed was done by an inmate of the house is cevtazn. No one got in, or could have got in; it is nonsense to suggest it. ‘The inmates consist of Lady Level and the servants only. If you take it from the servants, you must lay it upon her.” No answer. ‘¢ Well,” went on the doctor, ‘‘it is impossible to suspect her. A delicate, refined girl, as she is, could not do so evil a thing. So we must needs look to the servants. Deborah would not do it; the stout old cook could not. She was in bed ill, besides, and slept through all the noise and confusion. The two other servants, Sanders and Timms, are strangers.” ‘“T feel sure they no more did it than I,” impulsively spoke Mr. Ravensworth. “Then you would fall back upon Lady Level?” ‘No. No,” flashed Mr. Ravensworth. ‘The bare suggestion of the idea is an insult to her.” Doctor Macferraty drew himself back in his chair. ‘‘ There’s a mystery in the affair, look at it which way you will, sir,” he cried, raspingly. ‘‘ My lord says he did not recognise the assassin ; but, if he did not, why should he forbid investigation? Put it as you do, that the two servants are innocent—why, then, I fairly own I am puzzled. Another thing puzzles me: the knife was found in Lady Level’s chamber, yet she protests that she slept through it all—was only awakened by his lordship calling to her when it was over.” ‘It may have been flung in.” “No ; it was carried in; for blood had dripped from it all along the floor.” ‘“‘ Has the weapon been recognised ?” ‘Not that I am aware of. No one owns to knowing it. Anyway, it is an affair that ought to be, and that must be, inquired into officially,” concluded the doctor from the corridor, as he said good- night and went bustling out. Mr. Ravensworth, standing at the sitting-room door, saw him meet the steward, who must have overheard the words, and now advanced with cautious steps. Touching Mr. Ravensworth’s arm, he drew him within the shadow cast by a remote corner. “Sur,” he whispered, ‘‘my lady told Mrs. Edwards that you were a firm friend of hers; a sure friend P” ‘T trust I am, Mr. Drewitt.” ‘Then let it drop, sir; it is no common robber who has done this. Let it drop, for her sake and my lord’s.” Mr. Ravensworth felt painfully perplexed. ‘Those few words, spoken by the faithful old steward, were more fraught with suspicion against Lady Level than anything he had yet heard. Comicooolks (CO)