The Argosy — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

Featherston’s Story. 123 *‘ Because,” said Charley, “I have been watching the London boat ‘out, and I saw Captain Fennel and your sister go by it. Major and Mrs. Smith were with me. It is a lovely night.” ‘Wait a moment,” I said, as Charley was about to depart when I had accepted the invitation. ‘“‘Do you know whether an English- man named Dangerfield is living here ?” “Don’t think there is; I have not met with him,” said Charley. “Why, Miss Preen ?” ‘Oh, only that I was asked to-day whether I knew anyone of that name,” I returned carelessly. ‘‘Good-night, Mr. Charles. Thank you for coming.” They have invited me finding I was left alone, and I think it very kind of them, but the Smiths are both kind-hearted people. September 23rd.—Half-past nine o’clock, pm. Have just re- turned from Drecques by the last train after spending a pleasant day. Quiet, of course, for there is not much to do at Drecques except stroll over the ruins of the old castle, or saunter about the quaint little ancient town, and go into the grand old church. It was so fine and warm that we had dinner on the grass, the people at the cottage bringing out plates and knives and forks. Later in the day we took tea indoors. In the afternoon when all the rest were scattered about, and the Major sat smoking his cigar on the bench under the trees, I sat down by him to tell him what happened yesterday, and I begged him to give mehis opinion. It was no betrayal of confidence, for Major Smith is better acquainted with the shady side of the Fennels than I am. ‘| heard there was an English lawyer staying at the Hétel des Princes, and that he had come here from Douai,” observed the Major. ‘His name’s Lockett. It must have been he who spoke to you on the pier.” “Yes, of course. Do you know, Major, whether anyone has stayed at Sainteville passing as Mr. Dangerfield?” — “I don’t think so,” replied the Major. ‘Unless he has kept himself remarkably quiet.” ‘Could it apply to Captain Fennel ?” | “IT never knew that he had gone under an assumed name. The «accusation is one more likely to apply to his brother than to himself. James Fennel is unscrupulous, very incautious: notwithstanding that, I like him better than I like the other. There’s something about Edwin Fennel that repels you ; at least it does me ; but one can hardly help liking James, mauvais sujet though he is,” added the speaker, pausing to flirt off the ashes of his cigar. * The doubt pointing to Edwin Fennel in the affair is his suddenly decamping,” continued Major Smith. ‘It was quite impromptu, you say, Miss Preen ?” “Quite so. I feel sure he had no thought of going away in the morning; and he did not receive any letter from England later, COMIC OOO SS (SO) im