"
As a result, Harley and I presently set out for the gamekeeper's
cottage, and as the man had been warned that we should visit him,
he was on the porch smoking his pipe. A big, dark, ugly fellow
he proved to be, of a very forbidding cast of countenance.
Having introduced ourselves:
"I always knowed she'd come to a bad end!" declared Gamekeeper
Bramber, almost echoing Sir Howard's words. "One o' these
gentlemen o' hers was sure to be the finish of her!"
"She had other admirers--before Captain Vane?"
"Aye! the hussy! There was a black-faced villain not six months
since! He got t' vain cat to go to London an' have her
photograph done in a dress any decent woman would 'a' blushed to
look at! Like one o' these Venuses up at t' Manor! Good
riddance! She took after her mother!"
The violent old ruffian was awkward to examine, but Harley
persevered.
"This previous admirer caused her to be photographed in that way,
did he? Have you a copy?"
"No!" blazed Bramber. "What I found I burnt! He ran off, like I
told her he would--an' her cryin' her eyes out! But the pretty
soger dried her tears quick enough!"
"Do you know this man's name?"
"No. A foreigner, he was."
"Where were the photographs done--in London, you say?"
"Aye.
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