Great Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 3

BY B. L. FARJEON, Author of “Grif,” “London’s Heart,” “The House of White Shadows,” etc.
IN THREE VOLUMES. VOLUME III.
PRINTED BY KELLY AND CO., GATE STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS AND KINGSTON-ON-THAMES.


GREAT PORTER SQUARE: A MYSTERY.
BECKY GIVES A DESCRIPTION OF AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN HERSELF AND RICHARD MANX.
My Dearest Love—How, did you like my little messenger, Fanny? Is she not steady, and bright, and clever? When she woke this morning I had an earnest conversation with her, and as far as was necessary I told her my plans and that I wanted her faithful assistance. She cried for joy. The few words she managed to get out convinced me that, child as she is, I could not be better served by a grown-up person. Besides, I want a child to assist me; a grown-up person might spoil my plans. In what way? Patience, my dear, patience.
Mrs. Preedy noticed that I looked tired, and I told her that I had been kept awake all the night with toothache. She expressed great sympathy with me. It is wonderful the position I hold in the house; I am treated more like a lady than a servant. That is because I have lent my mistress forty pounds, and have agreed to pay for little Fanny’s board and lodging. Mrs. Preedy threw out a hint about taking me into partnership, if I would invest my fancied legacy into the business.
“We could keep on this house,” she said, “and take another on the other side of the Square.”
I said it was worth thinking about, but that, of course, I could do nothing until I received the whole amount of the legacy which would be in three weeks’ time. So the matter rests; during these three weeks Mrs. Preedy will be very gracious to me, I expect. She said this morning, when I told her about my toothache,
“You had better lay down, my dear.”