The Argosy, Vol. 20

This December 1875 issue features Chapter XXXIV of *A Secret of the Sea* by T. W. Speight. Matthew Kelvin, gravely ill and supported by Dr. Whitaker and Pod Piper, arrives at Sir Thomas's estate to make urgent confessions. He reveals that Eleanor Lloyd is adopted, not Sir Thomas's ward's biological daughter, and holds a sealed packet from her late father with details of her parentage. Kelvin further admits he withheld this knowledge for five months while seeking revenge on Eleanor, who had rejected his marriage proposals twice. He confesses that Olive Deane encouraged this scheme. Additionally, Kelvin exposes that Gerald Pomeroy (recently hired by Sir Thomas) entered service specifically to court Eleanor for her supposed twenty-thousand-pound fortune. However, Gerald claims his love is genuine and has already won Eleanor's promise to marry him now that she is penniless. Kelvin faints upon hearing this news.