Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1905-07-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUMMARY.  The story opens with i.ta interview between Mrs 'Adelaide Conyers a.nd Esmond Wilmot at the former' flat in Westbury Mansions. Mrs Conyers' real name is Lady Devereux; but shortly after her marriage to Lord Cecil Devereux he left her, and she has since adopted measures which have led him to belive that she is dead. Esmond Wilmot is the nephew and heir of Sir George Wilmot, an old and very wealthy baronet, whose title he would also inherit. Lord Cecil Devereux occupies the same relationship towards Sir George Wilmot namely, that of nephew. At the time the story opens, Lady Devereux, notwithstanding the fact of her husband being still alive, has promised to marry Prince Garstein, an intensely wealthy Russian nobleman, who is passionately infatuated with her. Esmond Wilmot tells Mrs Coryerg that Sir George, his uncle, has heard of her intrigue with Prince Gerstein, and threatens to denounce her to him. The two then arrange to meet at Wilmot Lodge to murder the old berenet, so that Wilmot may come into his irheritance. Teo new characters are now intredaeed in the rerzens of Mary Wilmot, Esmond WErnot's erife, and Janet Deeds, her old servant. Mary Wilmot therried Esmond secretly at Rome. Ile brolly i.t he.' to England and shut her ep in a swell house, where he visited her occasionally. On the eveieng of his appointment at his tunle's house he tens on his neglected wife to tell her that the marriage was a sham, and refuses her request to repair the wrong done to her. A young and beautitiful actress now come on the skene. 'I his is Sybil Montague, a. young girl, who, left eennikes and alone, has adopted the stage for a living. She is touring with a. provincial company when she saves the life of Lord Cecil Deverenx, who is thrown from his horse at her feet. Devereux falls in love with her, and meeting her again at Brighton, proposes and is accepted. Wilmot; however, has also made the acquaintance of tne girl and hopes to win her, when he finds himself superseded by Devereux. He, therefore, revenges himself by informing Lord Cecil that his wife still lives, which causes Devereux to at once break off the connection between himself and Mies Montague, without, however, assigning any reason. Wilmot and Mrs Conyers accomplish the shameful murder of the defenceless old man, having for eye-witness of the deed, Janet, Mary Wilmot's servant, who had followed Wilmot when he left her mistress in the hope of softening his hard heart. She decides to say nothing for the present. Wilmot asks Mrs Conyers to go down to Ravensmere, one of his houses, and take Sybil Montague as her companion. He proposes to the girl, but is rejected. From a discharged clerk, who had been in the service of his uncle's solicitors, Wilmot learns that a later will, appointing Devereux as his heir, has been left by Sir George. Janet Deeds pays a visit to London and warns NV-mot, who promises to consider the question of a marriage with her mistress. Sybil Montague leaves Ravensmere hurriedly when she learn,: fro,e Wilmot that Mrs Conyers is in reality Lady Devereux. She goes to London to her friend Miss Montmorency, where Wilmot follows her, and eventually persuades her to be his wife. Mrs Conyers, startled by Sybil's flight and all that it means, oo.nsents to marry the Prince in a week, and at once disappears from Ravenstrere Devereux, who just at, this time makes the acquaintance of Prince Garstein, finds that the woman he is to marry is really his (Devereitx's) own