The Argosy, Vol. 20

A Secret of the Sea *The Argos*, July 1875. This serial romance, by the author of "In the Dead of Night," concerns Eleanor Lloyd and her recently declared love for John Pomeroy (secretly Gerald Warburton). Excerpt from Chapter XIX finds Eleanor recovering from their passionate encounter—he confessed his love and kissed her—but now dreads and craves their next meeting. When Miss Lorrimore offers a brief visit, Eleanor flees the house rather than face Gerald alone. Upon her return after five days, she discovers Gerald has gone to London on Sir Thomas's business. Both suffer romantic uncertainty in his absence. Meanwhile, Pod Piper, a recurring character visiting Stammars with documents, encounters Eleanor in the conservatory. Eleanor harbors critical secrets: she learns Gerald's true identity is not Pomeroy but Warburton, and that she herself is actually Eleanor Murray, not Lloyd, with no rightful claim to Jacob Lloyd's estate.