luckto
disbelieve
in
ghosts
where
a
ghost
walks
.
"
Egerton
was
about
to
reply
;
but
he
checked
himself
—
remembering
that
it
was
useless
to
argue
against
a
deeply-rooted
superstition
.
He
accordingly
gave
some
instructions
relative
to
the
collation
,
which
he
ordered
to
be
served
up
in
the
course
of
an
hour
;
and
,
having
renewed
his
injunctions
as
to
caution
in
respect
to
his
supposed
ownership
of
the
estate
,
he
returned
to
the
drawing-room
where
he
had
left
the
company
.
CHAPTER
CCXLVI
.
THE
PARTY
AT
RAVENSWORTH
HALL
.
During
Albert
Egerton
's
absence
,
the
conversation
in
the
drawing-room
had
at
first
turned
upon
the
subject
of
the
old
gardener
's
statements
respecting
the
ghost
.
Lord
Dunstable
,
Mr.
Chichester
,
and
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
expressed
their
firm
belief
in
the
truth
of
the
story
—
simply
because
they
were
anxious
to
serve
their
friend
Egerton
,
and
get
the
aunt
and
cousins
back
again
to
London
as
speedily
as
possible
.
For
they
feared
that
if
an
exposure
were
to
take
place
,
and
if
the
deception
relative
to
the
ownership
of
the
Hall
were
by
any
accident
to
transpire
,
the
remonstrances
,
reproaches
,
and
accompanying
advice
which
Egerton
's
relations
were
certain
to
lavish
upon
him
,
might
have
the
effect
of
reclaiming
him
entirely
—
a
prospect
by
no
means
pleasant
to
the
minds
of
those
adventurers
,
who
were
resolved
to
pluck
him
to
his
very
last
feather
.
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
although
completely
agreeing
with
his
friends
in
all
matters
of
this
nature
,
nevertheless
proclaimed
his
total
disbelief
of
the
ghost
story
.
This
he
did
simply
because
it
would
have
appeared
too
pointed
had
all
Egerton
's
friends
combined
unanimously
in
recommending
that
the
party
should
return
to
London
immediately
after
the
collation
.
"
For
my
part
,
"
said
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
,
"
I
believe
every
word
that
the
old
man
uttered
.
Love
,
poetry
,
and
ghosts
seem
to
me
to
go
together
.
For
what
is
love
,
unless
the
lover
who
loses
her
whom
he
loves
,
can
soothe
the
agony
of
his
mind
by
the
conviction
that
she
—
the
dear
lost
one
—
is
ever
near
him
in
the
shape
of
a
disembodied
spirit
?
"
And
,
having
delivered
himself
of
this
splendid
proof
of
his
poetic
mind
,
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
glanced
triumphantly
around
him
.
"
How
sweet
you
do
talk
,
to
be
sure
,
my
dear
Tedworth
!
"
murmured
the
enraptured
Clarissa
Jemima
.
"
It
was
your
conversation
,
"
she
added
,
in
a
loving
whisper
,
"
that
first
made
an
impression
upon
my
heart
.
"
"
And
did
my
poetry
have
no
influence
,
dearest
?
"
asked
Mr.
Jones
,
in
a
tone
of
increasing
mawkishness
,
and
so
far
above
a
whisper
that
the
words
were
overheard
by
Mr.
Chichester
.
"
Ah
!
now
I
have
found
you
out
,
Mr.
Jones
!
"
cried
this
gentleman
,
who
most
probably
had
certain
reasons
of
his
own
for
playing
the
amiable
towards
the
wealthy
tripeman
's
heir
:
"
you
're
a
poet
—
eh
?
Well
—
I
thought
so
from
the
very
first
.
In
fact
you
have
the
air
of
a
poet
—
you
wear
your
collar
like
a
poet
—
you
look
altogether
like
a
poet
.
"
Now
,
although
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
looked
at
that
precise
moment
,
and
at
most
other
moments
also
,
more
like
an
ass
than
a
poet
,
he
nevertheless
felt
the
compliment
in
its
most
flattering
sense
;
and
after
a
considerable
degree
of
whispering
on
his
part
with
Clarissa
,
and
giggling
and
whispering
also
on
hers
,
it
transpired
that
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
had
addressed
to
his
beloved
a
great
variety
of
poetical
compositions
.
"
And
I
can
assure
you
that
they
are
very
pretty
too
,
"
cried
Mrs.
Bustard
,
who
was
by
no
means
an
indifferent
spectatress
of
this
scene
.
"
But
you
should
print
them
,
my
dear
sir
—
you
should
print
them
,
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Chichester
.
"
Let
the
world
welcome
you
at
once
as
a
great
poet
.
"
"
Well
,
"
said
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
,
his
whole
countenance
becoming
as
red
as
his
hair
,
so
that
it
seemed
as
if
he
were
about
to
go
off
in
a
state
of
spontaneous
combustion
;
"
I
did
venture
to
print
little
piece
a
few
weeks
ago
.
"
"
Indeed
!
"
said
Chichester
,
apparently
much
delighted
at
this
announcement
:
"
in
some
periodical
,
I
presume
?
"
"
No
—
it
was
to
have
been
struck
off
on
a
few
sheets
of
gilt-edged
paper
—
just
to
circulate
privately
amongst
my
friends
,
you
know
,
"
replied
Mr.
Jones
:
"
but
really
the
compositors
made
such
an
awful
mull
of
the
first
proof
that
I
never
had
the
courage
to
let
them
go
on
!
"
"
That
was
a
very
great
pity
,
"
observed
Chichester
.
"
I
can
show
you
the
original
copy
and
the
first
proof
,
if
you
like
,
"
continued
Mr.
Jones
;
"
and
you
may
then
judge
for
yourself
how
far
I
was
justified
in
being
angry
with
the
printers
.
"
Mr.
Chichester
of
course
expressed
the
utmost
curiosity
to
see
the
poem
and
the
proof
;
and
the
favour
was
conceded
by
Mr.
Jones
,
after
some
slight
opposition
on
the
part
of
Clarissa
,
who
thought
that
such
a
display
was
improper
in
respect
to
a
lady
"
in
her
situation
.
"
The
papers
were
,
however
,
handed
over
to
Mr.
Chichester
,
who
began
by
reading
aloud
the
following
manuscript
copy
of
verses
:
—
TO
CLARISSA
JEMIMA
.
Oh
!
sweet
Clarissa
—
ever
dearest
love
!
What
palpitations
does
my
fond
heart
prove
When
thy
coy
hand
I
press
!
Who
can
depict
th
'
ineffable
delight
With
which
thy
glances
break
upon
the
night
Of
my
sad
loneliness
?
True
as
the
Boreal
Lights
unto
the
Pole
,
Those
looks
shed
lustre
on
my
sadden
'd
soul
,
And
bid
sweet
visions
rise
To
cheer
me
in
my
wandering
path
,
and
give
A
plea
to
nurse
the
thought
that
I
may
live
To
bask
in
thy
bless
'd
eyes
!
Yes
—
dark
as
seemeth
this
wide
world
to
me
,
Perverse
as
human
hearts
appear
to
be
,
Thou
art
all
truth
and
joy
!
For
thee
the
incense
of
my
altar
burns
;
To
thee
my
grateful
memory
ever
turns
With
bliss
that
ne'er
can
cloy
!
These
verses
were
received
with
great
applause
by
all
present
;
but
during
the
reading
of
them
Clarissa
had
thought
it
quite
becoming
for
a
young
lady
"
in
her
situation
"
to
burst
into
tears
,
and
throw
herself
in
a
sort
of
hysterical
frenzy
into
her
mamma
's
arms
.
This
little
bit
of
tragedy
was
,
however
,
soon
got
over
;
and
,
the
manuscript
copy
of
the
verses
having
been
disposed
of
,
Mr.
Chichester
proceeded
to
read
aloud
the
first
proof
of
the
stanzas
in
print
:
—
TO
ALRISSA
GEMINI
.
Oh
!
sweet
Alrissa
—
ever
cleanest
bore
!
What
fluctuations
does
my
proud
heart
pour
When
thy
toy
's
hand
I
guess
!
Who
can
defect
th
'
inexorable
delight
With
which
thy
flounces
break
upon
the
sight
Of
my
bad
loveliness
?
Trim
as
the
Rascal
Sights
unto
the
Pole
,
Those
locks
shed
bistre
on
my
padded
soul
,
And
bid
smart
onions
rise
To
churn
me
in
my
mantling
path
and
give
A
flea
to
nerve
the
thought
that
I
may
live
To
bask
in
thy
blear
'd
eyes
!
You
bark
as
smelleth
this
vile
work
to
me
,
Peruse
as
human
beasts
appear
to
be
,
Then
act
all
trash
and
gag
!
For
thee
the
nonsense
of
my
utter
brims
;
To
thee
my
platefull
simmering
ever
trims
With
flies
that
now
ca
n't
bag
!
"
I
think
you
will
grant
that
the
printers
made
a
slight
mull
of
my
writing
?
"
said
Mr.
Jones
,
when
Chichester
had
brought
this
specimen
of
typography
to
a
conclusion
.
"
Yes
—
a
slight
mull
,
as
you
observe
,
"
returned
this
gentleman
,
who
,
together
with
his
own
friends
,
was
scarcely
able
to
repress
a
boisterous
outbreak
of
mirth
.
"
But
it
is
impossible
to
feel
any
annoyance
at
that
strange
assemblage
of
misconceptions
on
the
part
of
the
printer
,
since
the
original
itself
is
so
perfectly
beautiful
.
"
"
Oh
!
yes
—
so
very
charming
!
"
whispered
Clarissa
Jemima
to
her
lover
.
Mr.
Jones
looked
a
complete
encyclopædia
of
tender
emotions
;
and
the
happy
couple
,
forgetting
that
other
persons
were
present
,
continued
their
discourse
in
whispers
.
"
Well
,
I
declare
,
"
said
Miss
Susannah
Rachel
,
after
a
pause
,
"
I
do
n't
think
I
shall
ever
again
be
able
to
sleep
without
a
light
in
the
room
,
after
all
that
has
been
told
us
about
the
ghost
.
"
"
And
I
shall
always
cover
my
head
over
with
the
clothes
,
"
lisped
another
female
specimen
of
the
Bustard
race
.
"
I
've
been
told
,
"
remarked
the
fourth
daughter
,
"
that
a
horse-shoe
nailed
to
the
door
of
a
room
will
prevent
evil
spirits
from
passing
the
threshold
.
"
"
Or
sleep
with
a
Bible
under
your
pillow
,
"
said
the
fifth
Miss
Bustard
.
"
That
's
all
very
well
,
gals
,
"
observed
the
parent
of
this
most
interesting
family
;
"
but
ghostesses
wo
n't
be
kept
away
by
such
means
as
them
.
Where
there
's
evil
spirits
,
there
evil
spirits
will
be
.
"
"
Nothing
can
possibly
be
clearer
,
madam
,
"
exclaimed
Lord
Dunstable
.
"
And
if
they
must
walk
,
they
will
walk
,
"
continued
Mrs.
Bustard
.
"
Your
arguments
are
really
admirable
,
madam
.
"
"
And
so
it
's
of
no
use
bothering
oneself
about
it
—
beyond
getting
away
as
soon
as
possible
from
the
place
where
ghostesses
are
,
"
added
the
lady
.
"
Were
you
of
the
other
sex
,
madam
,
I
should
say
you
had
graduated
at
Oxford
,
"
remarked
the
nobleman
;
"
for
you
reason
with
all
the
logic
of
Euclid
.
"
"
Is
Mr.
Euclid
such
a
very
clever
man
,
my
lord
?
"
asked
Mrs.
Bustard
.
Dunstable
was
suddenly
seized
with
a
violent
fit
of
coughing
:
—
at
least
so
it
appeared
to
the
good-natured
old
lady
;
inasmuch
as
he
was
forced
to
keep
his
handkerchief
to
his
mouth
for
a
considerable
time
.
Egerton
now
re-appeared
,
and
suggested
a
ramble
about
the
grounds
,
while
the
collation
was
being
spread
.
Mrs.
Bustard
was
anxious
to
go
over
the
mansion
;
but
Egerton
negatived
that
proposal
by
stating
that
as
he
had
not
yet
compared
the
contents
of
the
various
rooms
with
the
inventory
,
it
would
not
be
fair
to
institute
any
such
examination
unless
attended
by
the
persons
in
charge
of
the
place
;
and
they
were
too
busy
with
the
preparations
for
the
luncheon
to
spare
time
for
that
purpose
.
The
ramble
was
accordingly
agreed
to
;
and
the
party
descended
to
the
gardens
.
"
Well
,
my
dear
Albert
,
"
said
Mrs.
Bustard
,
as
they
roved
through
the
grounds
,
"
I
admire
the
edifisk
and
I
admire
the
gardens
very
much
;
but
I
do
n't
like
the
evil
spirit
.
You
'll
never
be
happy
in
this
lonely
place
until
you
marry
,
and
have
a
companion
.
"
"
Marry
!
"
exclaimed
Egerton
,
into
whose
head
the
idea
had
only
entered
as
one
suggesting
a
means
to
repair
his
fortunes
,
when
they
should
be
completely
shattered
.
"
Yes
—
marry
,
to
be
sure
!
"
continued
his
good-natured
but
garrulous
relative
.
"
Let
me
see
—
I
think
I
could
make
up
an
excellent
match
for
you
.
What
should
you
say
to
Miss
Posselwaithe
,
the
great
paviour
's
daughter
?
"
"
Oh
!
my
dear
madam
,
"
exclaimed
Lord
Dunstable
,
"
your
nephew
may
look
somewhat
higher
than
a
paviour
's
daughter
.
I
intend
that
he
shall
marry
a
lady
of
title
as
well
as
of
fortune
.
Only
think
how
well
it
will
sound
in
the
Morning
Herald
—
'
Mr.
and
Lady
Egerton
,
of
Ravensworth
Park
.
'
"
"
So
it
would
—
so
it
would
!
"
cried
the
aunt
,
delighted
with
the
prospect
thus
held
out
.
And
in
this
way
they
chatted
until
the
bell
on
the
roof
of
the
Hall
rang
to
summon
them
to
the
collation
.
The
table
was
spread
in
"
the
haunted
room
;
"
and
the
company
took
their
places
with
a
determination
to
do
ample
justice
to
the
excellent
cheer
.
We
have
already
given
the
reader
to
understand
that
there
was
a
most
liberal
supply
of
eatables
provided
for
this
occasion
:
we
should
also
state
that
the
wine
was
equally
plentiful
and
good
;
and
the
champagne
soon
circulated
with
great
freedom
.
Mrs.
Bustard
permitted
Lord
Dunstable
to
fill
her
glass
as
often
as
he
chose
;
and
that
was
very
often
indeed
.
As
for
her
daughters
,
they
one
and
all
declared
to
the
gentlemen
who
respectively
sate
next
to
them
,
that
they
really
could
not
possibly
think
of
taking
more
than
a
quarter
of
a
glass
;
but
it
happened
that
,
after
a
great
deal
of
simpering
,
giggling
,
and
blushing
,
they
managed
to
toss
off
each
a
bumper
;
and
somehow
or
another
their
eyes
were
averted
when
their
glasses
were
being
refilled
;
and
on
the
third
occasion
of
such
replenishment
,
they
took
it
as
a
matter
of
course
.
Things
went
on
so
comfortably
,
that
Egerton
's
spirits
rose
to
as
high
a
state
of
exuberance
as
if
he
were
really
the
owner
of
the
splendid
mansion
in
which
he
was
entertaining
his
relations
and
friends
:
—
Mrs
.
Bustard
declared
that
she
never
had
seen
any
thing
so
pleasant
since
the
day
when
her
poor
deceased
husband
and
herself
dined
with
the
Lord
Mayor
;
—
Mr
.
Tedworth
Jones
insisted
upon
singing
a
song
which
he
had
himself
composed
to
his
intended
,
and
the
two
first
lines
of
which
delicately
eulogised
the
fair
"
Clarissa
,
"
and
plainly
stated
how
grieved
the
poet
would
be
to
"
miss
her
;
"
—
and
even
the
young
lady
herself
was
so
happy
and
contented
that
she
forgot
to
reproach
her
lover
for
thus
publicly
complimenting
one
"
in
her
situation
.
"
Dunstable
flattered
the
old
lady
:
Cholmondeley
,
Harborough
,
and
Chichester
made
themselves
agreeable
to
the
young
ones
;
and
every
thing
was
progressing
as
"
merry
as
a
marriage
bell
,
"
when
the
old
gardener
rushed
franticly
into
the
room
,
carrying
his
paper
cap
in
one
hand
,
his
wig
in
the
other
,
and
bawling
at
the
top
of
his
cracked
voice
,
"
A
corpse
!
a
corpse
!
"
Every
one
started
from
his
seat
around
the
table
,
and
surveyed
the
gardener
with
looks
of
astonishment
.
For
a
moment
Egerton
and
his
four
fashionable
friends
imagined
that
this
was
some
scheme
of
the
gardener
to
break
up
the
party
,
and
was
therefore
to
some
extent
a
stratagem
in
favour
of
Egerton
himself
:
but
a
second
glance
at
the
horror-struck
countenance
of
the
old
man
convinced
them
that
his
present
conduct
was
far
different
from
a
mere
feint
.
"
A
corpse
!
a
corpse
!
"
he
repeated
,
casting
haggard
looks
around
.
"
What
in
the
name
of
heaven
do
you
mean
?
"
demanded
Egerton
,
now
advancing
towards
him
.
The
gardener
sank
,
trembling
all
over
,
upon
a
seat
;
and
Egerton
made
him
swallow
a
glass
of
wine
.
In
a
few
minutes
he
grew
more
composed
,
put
on
his
wig
,
—
which
,
it
seemed
,
bad
fallen
off
as
he
was
rushing
up
the
stairs
,
—
and
then
related
in
his
characteristic
round-about
manner
the
causes
of
his
ejaculations
and
his
alarms
.
But
it
will
perhaps
suit
the
convenience
of
the
reader
much
better
if
we
explain
the
whole
affair
in
our
own
language
,
and
as
succinctly
as
possible
.
It
appeared
,
then
,
that
while
the
company
in
the
drawing-room
were
discussing
their
wine
,
and
the
gardener
,
his
wife
,
and
the
servants
in
attendance
upon
the
vehicles
,
were
dining
off
the
remains
of
the
banquet
in
the
kitchen
,
a
stout
,
hearty
,
decently
dressed
man
,
of
about
eight-and-forty
years
of
age
,
was
passing
through
a
field
near
Ravensworth
Hall
.
He
was
accompanied
by
a
beautiful
terrier
,
with
which
he
amused
himself
by
throwing
a
small
stick
to
as
great
a
distance
as
he
could
,
and
making
the
dog
fetch
it
back
to
him
.
The
little
animal
was
very
sagacious
,
and
performed
its
duty
well
:
until
at
last
the
man
threw
the
stick
into
a
certain
part
of
the
field
where
the
dog
persisted
in
remaining
,
instead
of
hastening
back
to
its
master
.
Vainly
did
the
man
whistle
and
call
from
a
distance
:
the
dog
would
not
obey
him
,
but
kept
scratching
in
a
particular
spot
from
which
it
would
not
stir
.
Thither
did
the
man
accordingly
proceed
;
and
,
on
reaching
the
spot
,
he
found
the
dog
working
away
with
its
little
paws
in
a
hollow
which
had
doubtless
been
caused
by
the
recent
rains
.
At
the
same
time
a
nauseous
effluvium
assailed
the
man
's
nostrils
;
and
,
on
examining
the
spot
more
attentively
,
he
discovered
—
to
his
indescribable
horror
—
a
human
hand
protruding
from
the
soil
!
It
was
almost
a
skeleton-hand
;
but
the
black
and
rotting
flesh
still
clung
to
it
,
and
the
fibres
were
not
so
far
decomposed
as
to
cease
to
hold
the
joints
of
the
fingers
together
.
Seizing
the
dog
in
his
arms
,
the
man
tore
the
little
animal
away
from
the
spot
where
so
appalling
a
spectacle
appeared
;
and
,
without
farther
hesitation
,
he
hurried
to
the
Hall
.
Having
found
his
way
to
the
servants
'
offices
,
he
communicated
his
discovery
to
the
old
gardener
and
to
the
servants
who
had
accompanied
Egerton
's
party
to
the
mansion
.
The
first
impulse
of
Abraham
Squiggs
was
to
hurry
up
stairs
and
alarm
the
guests
with
the
strange
news
thus
brought
;
but
Lord
Dunstable
's
lacquey
suggested
the
impropriety
of
disturbing
the
company
,
and
proposed
that
the
spot
should
be
first
examined
by
means
of
mattocks
and
spades
.
This
plan
was
immediately
assented
to
:
and
,
the
gardener
having
procured
the
implements
required
,
the
owner
of
the
dog
hastened
to
lead
the
way
to
the
place
where
the
human
hand
appeared
above
the
ground
.
Mrs.
Squiggs
protested
against
being
left
behind
:
she
was
accordingly
allowed
to
form
one
of
the
party
.
On
reaching
the
spot
,
the
news
which
the
stranger
had
imparted
were
found
to
be
correct
;
and
the
exposed
member
was
viewed
with
looks
of
horror
and
alarm
.
"
Some
foul
deed
has
been
committed
,
"
said
the
stranger
;
"
but
I
have
always
heard
and
read
that
God
will
sooner
or
later
bring
murder
to
light
.
"
"
Ah
!
and
that
's
true
enow
,
I
'll
warrant
!
"
exclaimed
the
old
gardener
.
"
The
body
which
that
hand
belongs
to
,
was
no
doubt
buried
deep
;
but
the
rains
overflowed
yonder
pond
,
and
the
water
made
itself
a
way
along
here
,
you
see
—
so
that
it
has
hollered
the
earth
out
several
foot
.
"
"
Well
—
it
's
of
no
use
talking
,
"
said
the
stranger
:
"
but
make
haste
and
dig
down
here
,
old
gentleman
—
so
that
we
may
see
whether
the
hand
has
an
arm
,
and
the
arm
a
body
.
"
The
gardener
took
the
spade
,
and
set
to
work
;
but
he
trembled
so
violently
that
he
was
unable
to
proceed
for
many
minutes
.
The
stranger
accordingly
snatched
the
spade
from
his
hands
,
and
addressed
himself
resolutely
to
the
task
.
While
he
was
thus
employed
,
the
others
stood
by
in
profound
silence
;
but
the
dog
ran
in
a
timid
manner
round
the
spot
,
sometimes
barking
—
then
whining
mournfully
.
His
master
worked
speedily
,
but
carefully
;
and
as
each
shovel-full
of
earth
was
thrown
up
,
and
as
the
proofs
that
an
entire
human
body
lay
beneath
became
every
instant
more
apparent
,
the
spectators
exchanged
glances
of
augmenting
horror
.
But
when
at
length
the
entire
form
of
a
human
being
was
laid
bare
scarcely
two
feet
below
the
bottom
of
the
hollow
,
—
when
their
eyes
fell
upon
the
blackened
flesh
of
the
decomposing
head
,
the
features
of
which
were
no
longer
traceable
,
—
and
when
the
rotting
remnants
of
attire
showed
that
the
being
who
had
there
found
a
grave
was
of
the
female
sex
,
a
cry
burst
simultaneously
from
every
lip
.
"
Here
's
work
for
the
Coroner
,
at
all
events
,
"
observed
the
stranger
,
after
a
long
pause
.
"
We
must
move
the
body
to
the
big
house
there
—
—
"
"
Move
the
body
to
the
Hall
!
"
cried
the
old
gardener
and
his
wife
,
in
the
same
breath
,
and
both
looking
aghast
at
this
announcement
.
"
Yes
—
most
certainly
,
"
answered
the
stranger
.
"
Would
you
leave
a
Christian
—
as
I
hope
that
poor
woman
was
—
to
be
devoured
by
rats
and
other
vermin
?
I
might
have
done
so
once
:
but
,
thank
God
!
I
have
become
a
better
man
since
then
.
Howsomever
,
get
us
a
plank
or
two
,
old
gentleman
;
and
we
'll
do
our
duty
in
a
proper
manner
.
"
The
gardener
retraced
his
way
,
in
a
sulky
mood
,
and
with
much
mumbling
to
himself
,
to
the
Hall
,
and
presently
returned
with
a
couple
of
planks
and
two
stout
pieces
of
wood
to
serve
as
cross-beams
to
form
the
bier
.
The
corpse
was
then
carefully
placed
upon
the
planks
,
but
not
without
great
risk
of
its
falling
to
pieces
while
being
thus
moved
;
and
,
the
bier
having
been
hoisted
on
the
shoulders
of
the
stranger
,
Dunstable
's
lacquey
,
the
seedy
coachman
,
and
Colonel
Cholmondeley
's
groom
,
the
procession
moved
towards
the
Hall
,
the
gardener
and
his
wife
at
the
head
.
But
when
the
party
arrived
,
with
its
appalling
burden
,
near
the
mansion
,
the
old
man
and
woman
began
to
exchange
hasty
whispers
together
.
"
What
is
the
matter
now
?
"
asked
the
stranger
.
"
Why
,
sir
,
"
replied
the
gardener
,
in
a
hesitating
manner
,
"
me
and
my
wife
has
been
a-thinking
together
that
it
would
be
as
well
to
put
the
remains
of
that
poor
creetur
as
far
from
our
own
rooms
as
possible
:
'
cos
what
with
a
sperret
here
and
a
dead
body
there
—
—
"
"
Well
,
well
—
old
man
,
"
interrupted
the
stranger
,
impatiently
;
"
this
load
is
heavy
,
and
I
for
one
shall
be
glad
to
put
it
down
somewhere
.
So
leave
off
chattering
uselessly
—
and
tell
us
in
a
word
what
you
do
mean
.
"
"
To
be
sure
,
"
returned
the
gardener
:
"
this
way
—
this
way
.
"
And
,
as
he
spoke
,
he
opened
a
small
door
at
the
southern
end
of
the
building
,
by
means
of
a
key
which
he
selected
from
a
bunch
hanging
beneath
his
apron
.
"
We
never
can
get
up
that
staircase
,
old
gentleman
,
"
said
the
stranger
,
plunging
his
glances
through
the
door-way
.
"
It
's
easier
than
you
think
—
the
stairs
is
n't
so
steep
as
they
seem
,
"
returned
the
gardener
;
"
and
what
's
more
,
"
he
added
,
doggedly
,
"
you
may
either
bring
your
burden
this
way
,
or
leave
it
in
the
open
air
altogether
.
"
"
To
be
sure
,
"
chimed
in
the
old
woman
:
"
if
you
do
n't
choose
to
put
the
body
in
the
very
farthermost
room
from
our
end
of
the
building
,
you
may
take
it
back
again
;
and
them
stairs
leads
to
the
room
that
is
farthermost
off
.
"
The
stranger
,
who
was
a
willing
,
good-natured
man
,
and
who
seemed
to
study
only
how
he
should
best
perform
a
Christian
duty
,
offered
no
farther
remonstrance
;
but
,
respecting
the
prejudices
of
the
old
people
,
succeeded
,
by
the
aid
of
his
co-operators
,
in
conveying
the
bier
up
the
staircase
.
On
reaching
the
landing
,
the
gardener
opened
the
door
of
a
room
the
shutters
of
which
were
closed
;
but
through
the
chinks
there
streamed
sufficient
light
to
show
that
the
apartment
was
a
bed-chamber
.
"
Put
it
down
there
—
on
the
carpet
,
"
said
the
gardener
,
who
was
anxious
to
terminate
a
proceeding
by
no
means
agreeable
to
him
.
The
bier
was
conveyed
into
the
room
,
and
placed
upon
the
floor
.
At
that
moment
—
while
the
gardener
and
his
wife
remained
standing
in
the
passage
—
the
old
man
suddenly
caught
hold
of
the
woman
's
arm
with
a
convulsive
grasp
,
and
whispered
in
a
hasty
and
hollow
tone
,
"
Hark
!
there
's
a
footstep
!
"
"
Yes
—
I
hear
it
too
!
"
returned
his
wife
,
in
a
scarcely
audible
tone
:
and
,
through
very
fright
,
she
repeated
,
"
There
—
there
—
there
!
"
as
often
as
the
footstep
fell
—
or
seemed
to
fall
—
upon
her
ears
.
"
At
the
end
of
the
passage
—
—
"
murmured
the
gardener
.
"
Do
you
see
any
thing
?
"
asked
his
wife
,
clinging
to
him
.
"
No
—
but
it
's
certain
to
be
the
sperret
,
"
returned
the
man
.
And
they
leant
on
each
other
for
support
.
At
the
next
moment
the
four
men
came
from
the
interior
of
the
room
where
they
had
deposited
the
corpse
;
and
the
two
old
people
began
to
breathe
more
freely
.
The
gardener
hurried
his
wife
and
companions
down
the
narrow
staircase
,
and
pushed
them
all
hastily
from
the
threshold
of
the
little
door
,
which
he
carefully
locked
behind
him
.
Then
,
having
given
the
stranger
a
surly
kind
of
invitation
to
step
in
and
refresh
himself
,
he
led
the
way
to
the
offices
at
the
opposite
extremity
of
the
building
.
But
scarcely
had
the
party
gained
the
servants
'
hall
,
when
the
old
gardener
,
whose
mind
was
powerfully
excited
by
all
that
had
just
occurred
,
hastened
abruptly
away
;
and
,
rushing
up
the
great
staircase
,
he
burst
into
the
drawing-room
,
exclaiming
,
"
A
corpse
!
a
corpse
!
"
CHAPTER
CCXLVII
.
THE
STRANGER
WHO
DISCOVERED
THE
CORPSE
.
Perhaps
there
is
no
other
cry
in
the
world
,
save
that
of
"
Fire
!
"
more
calculated
to
spread
terror
and
dismay
,
when
falling
suddenly
and
unexpectedly
upon
the
ears
of
a
party
of
revellers
,
than
that
of
"
A
corpse
!
a
corpse
!
"
Before
a
single
question
can
be
put
,
or
a
word
of
explanation
be
given
,
each
one
who
hears
that
ominous
announcement
revolves
a
thousand
dread
conjectures
in
his
mind
:
for
although
that
cry
might
in
reality
herald
nothing
more
appalling
than
a
case
of
sudden
death
from
natural
causes
,
yet
the
imagination
instinctively
associates
it
with
the
foulest
deed
of
treachery
and
murder
.
Such
was
the
case
in
the
present
instance
.
The
entire
party
started
from
their
seats
;
and
the
smiles
that
were
a
moment
before
upon
their
countenances
gave
place
to
looks
of
profound
horror
and
intense
curiosity
.
The
feelings
thus
denoted
did
not
experience
any
mitigation
from
the
inquiring
glances
that
were
cast
towards
the
gardener
;
for
the
entire
appearance
of
the
old
man
was
far
more
calculated
to
augment
than
diminish
the
alarm
which
his
strange
cry
had
originated
.
His
eyes
rolled
wildly
in
their
sockets
—
his
quivering
lips
were
livid
—
his
frame
seemed
to
be
influenced
by
one
continuous
shudder
,
and
his
breath
came
with
difficulty
.
In
fact
,
the
mysterious
sounds
of
footsteps
in
the
passage
had
worked
up
his
feelings
,
already
greatly
moved
by
the
discovery
and
exhumation
of
the
rotting
carcass
of
a
female
,
to
a
degree
of
excitement
doubly
painful
to
behold
in
one
so
bowed
with
the
weight
of
years
as
he
;
and
he
sank
into
a
seat
,
as
we
have
before
said
,
in
a
state
of
almost
complete
exhaustion
.
The
wine
that
Egerton
compelled
him
to
swallow
partially
restored
him
;
and
in
the
course
of
a
few
minutes
he
was
enabled
to
relate
the
particulars
which
we
have
succinctly
placed
before
the
reader
.
The
ladies
were
cruelly
shocked
by
the
narrative
that
thus
met
their
ears
;
and
they
one
and
all
declared
that
nothing
should
ever
again
induce
them
to
visit
a
place
into
possession
of
which
their
relative
seemed
to
have
entered
under
the
most
inauspicious
circumstances
.
They
also
requested
to
be
taken
back
to
London
with
the
least
possible
delay
;
and
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
,
with
his
friend
Chichester
,
hastened
to
give
the
servants
orders
to
get
the
vehicles
ready
.
Mrs.
Bustard
and
her
daughters
retired
into
an
ante-room
to
put
on
their
bonnets
and
shawls
:
Egerton
,
Dunstable
,
Cholmondeley
,
and
Tedworth
Jones
remained
standing
round
the
chair
on
which
the
old
gardener
was
still
seated
.
"
This
is
a
most
extraordinary
thing
,
"
said
Dunstable
,
after
a
pause
,
during
which
he
had
reflected
profoundly
:
then
,
addressing
himself
to
his
friend
the
Colonel
,
he
asked
in
a
serious
tone
,
"
Does
not
the
strange
discovery
just
made
remind
you
of
something
that
I
mentioned
to
you
nearly
two
years
ago
?
"
"
I
recollect
!
"
cried
the
Colonel
:
"
you
allude
to
the
mysterious
disappearance
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
"
"
I
do
,
"
answered
the
nobleman
.
"
That
event
occurred
while
I
was
lying
wounded
in
this
house
.
"
"
Ah
!
I
heerd
of
it
,
to
be
sure
!
"
said
the
gardener
.
"
But
I
was
down
in
the
country
when
all
them
things
took
place
—
I
was
there
for
some
months
.
Do
you
think
—
—
"
"
No
—
it
could
not
be
!
"
interrupted
Dunstable
:
"
for
it
was
well
known
at
the
time
that
Lydia
decamped
with
Lady
Ravensworth
's
jewel-box
.
"
Colonel
Cholmondeley
turned
away
,
and
said
nothing
:
he
remembered
the
evidences
of
desperate
enmity
between
Adeline
and
Lydia
,
which
had
come
within
his
own
cognisance
;
and
a
vague
—
a
very
vague
,
distant
,
and
undefined
suspicion
that
the
corpse
just
discovered
might
indeed
be
that
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
entered
his
mind
.
But
he
speedily
banished
it
:
for
the
idea
that
Lady
Ravensworth
could
have
had
any
thing
to
do
with
the
murder
of
Lydia
did
not
seem
tenable
for
a
moment
.
"
As
your
lordship
says
,
"
observed
the
old
gardener
,
after
a
long
pause
,
and
now
addressing
himself
to
Dunstable
,
"
it
ca
n't
have
any
thing
to
do
with
that
young
o'oman
who
was
here
a
few
weeks
as
my
lady
's
maid
—
'
cos
it
's
well
knowed
that
she
bolted
off
with
the
jewel-casket
,
as
your
lordship
says
.
"
Here
Cholmondeley
advanced
towards
Dunstable
,
took
him
by
the
arm
,
and
,
leading
him
aside
,
said
in
a
hasty
whisper
,
"
Let
us
leave
this
matter
where
it
is
.
Should
the
body
just
discovered
be
really
that
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
who
disappeared
so
strangely
,
it
would
be
very
annoying
for
us
to
have
to
explain
to
a
Coroner
's
jury
all
we
know
about
her
and
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
"
Truly
so
,
"
answered
Dunstable
.
"
And
,
after
all
,
it
is
no
affair
of
ours
.
"
This
understanding
being
arrived
at
,
the
nobleman
and
his
friend
returned
to
the
table
,
where
they
helped
themselves
to
some
champagne
to
allay
,
as
they
said
,
the
disagreeable
sensations
produced
by
the
sudden
interruption
which
their
mirth
had
experienced
.
The
day
seemed
to
be
marked
out
by
destiny
as
one
on
which
various
adventures
were
to
occur
in
respect
to
the
excursion
party
to
Ravensworth
Hall
.
It
will
be
remembered
that
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
Chichester
had
left
the
drawing-room
for
the
purpose
of
seeing
the
vehicles
got
ready
with
the
least
possible
delay
.
The
two
friends
—
whom
the
associated
roguery
of
many
years
had
rendered
as
intimate
as
even
brothers
could
be
—
proceeded
down
stairs
,
and
,
after
some
little
trouble
,
found
their
way
to
the
servants
'
offices
.
Guided
by
a
sound
of
voices
,
they
threaded
a
passage
,
and
at
length
found
themselves
on
the
threshold
of
the
room
where
the
gardener
's
wife
,
the
stranger
who
had
first
discovered
the
body
,
the
seedy
coachman
,
the
lacquey
,
and
the
groom
,
were
still
discussing
the
incident
that
had
so
recently
occurred
.
But
the
moment
that
the
two
gentlemen
appeared
at
the
door
,
the
stranger
started
from
his
seat
,
exclaiming
in
a
loud
tone
,
"
Well
met
,
I
declare
!
You
're
the
very
identical
men
I
've
long
been
wanting
to
see
!
"
And
,
putting
his
arms
akimbo
,
he
advanced
towards
them
in
a
manner
which
appeared
extremely
free
and
independent
in
the
eyes
of
the
lacqueys
.
"
Ah
!
my
good
friend
Talbot
!
"
cried
the
baronet
,
for
a
moment
thrown
off
his
guard
,
but
speedily
recovering
himself
:
"
upon
my
honour
I
am
delighted
to
see
you
!
"
"
So
am
I
—
quite
charmed
to
find
you
looking
so
well
!
"
exclaimed
Chichester
.
"
No
thanks
to
either
of
you
,
howsomever
,
"
said
the
individual
thus
addressed
,
and
without
appearing
to
notice
the
hands
that
were
extended
to
him
.
"
But
you
know
as
well
as
I
do
that
my
name
is
n't
Talbot
at
all
;
it
's
Bill
Pocock
—
and
,
I
may
add
,
too
,
without
telling
a
lie
,
that
it
's
now
honest
Bill
Pocock
.
"
"
Well
,
my
dear
Pocock
,
"
exclaimed
Chichester
,
with
a
glance
that
implored
his
forbearance
,
"
I
am
really
quite
happy
to
see
you
.
But
we
will
step
out
into
the
garden
,
and
just
talk
over
a
few
little
matters
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
gentlemen
,
"
said
the
gardener
's
wife
,
coming
forward
,
"
you
're
quite
welcome
to
step
into
our
little
parlour
t'other
side
of
the
passage
—
if
so
be
you
have
any
thing
private
to
talk
about
.
"
"
Thank
you
—
that
will
exactly
suit
us
,
"
returned
Chichester
,
hastily
:
and
,
taking
Pocock
's
arm
,
he
drew
him
into
the
room
thus
offered
for
their
privacy
.
The
baronet
remained
behind
for
a
few
moments
,
to
give
the
necessary
instructions
to
the
servants
relative
to
preparing
the
vehicles
;
and
,
this
being
done
,
he
rejoined
Chichester
and
Pocock
.
When
the
trio
were
thus
assembled
in
the
gardener
's
little
parlour
,
Pocock
said
,
"
So
I
find
you
two
chaps
still
pursuing
the
old
game
.
Got
in
with
a
young
cit
named
Egerton
—
and
all
his
relations
—
eh
?
Pretty
goings
on
,
I
've
no
doubt
.
"
"
Only
just
in
a
friendly
way
,
my
dear
fellow
,
"
exclaimed
Chichester
.
"
But
you
stated
that
you
had
been
looking
for
me
and
Harborough
for
a
long
time
?
"
"
Yes
—
I
was
anxious
enough
to
see
you
both
,
"
returned
Pocock
:
"
and
I
'll
tell
you
the
reason
why
.
You
remember
that
night
—
some
few
years
ago
—
when
you
two
got
such
a
precious
walloping
at
the
Dark
House
in
Brick
Lane
,
Spitalfields
?
"
"
Well
—
well
,
"
said
the
baronet
:
"
go
on
.
"
"
Oh
!
I
see
you
have
n't
forgot
it
!
You
also
know
that
on
that
same
night
the
very
young
man
whom
we
all
ruined
,
was
present
—
I
mean
Richard
Markham
.
"
"
Yes
—
to
be
sure
.
But
what
of
that
?
"
demanded
Chichester
.
"
Why
—
I
gave
him
a
paper
,
drawed
up
and
signed
by
myself
,
—
plain
William
Pocock
,
and
none
of
your
aristocratic
Talbots
.
"
"
And
that
paper
?
"
said
the
baronet
,
anxiously
.
"
Contained
a
complete
confession
of
the
whole
business
that
brought
him
into
trouble
,
"
continued
Pocock
.
"
But
he
pledged
himself
not
to
use
it
to
my
prejudice
;
and
that
's
the
reason
why
you
never
heard
of
it
in
a
legal
way
.
On
that
same
occasion
he
put
a
fifty-pound
note
into
my
hand
,
saying
,
'
Accept
this
as
a
token
of
my
gratitude
and
a
proof
of
my
forgiveness
;
and
endeavour
to
enter
an
honest
path
.
Should
you
ever
require
a
friend
,
do
not
hesitate
to
apply
to
me
.
'
—
Those
was
his
words
;
and
they
made
a
deep
impression
on
me
.
Yes
—
gentlemen
,
and
I
did
enter
an
honest
path
,
"
continued
Pocock
,
proudly
:
"
and
that
money
prospered
me
.
I
returned
to
my
old
business
as
an
engraver
—
I
left
off
going
to
public-houses
—
I
worked
hard
,
and
redeemed
my
character
with
my
old
employers
.
Since
that
night
at
the
Dark
House
all
has
gone
well
with
me
.
I
have
never
applied
to
my
benefactor
—
because
I
have
never
required
a
friend
.
But
I
have
prayed
for
him
morning
and
evening
—
yes
,
gentlemen
,
prayed
!
I
know
that
this
may
sound
strange
in
your
ears
:
it
is
nevertheless
true
—
and
I
am
not
ashamed
to
own
it
.
And
while
that
faultless
young
man
was
pursuing
his
glorious
career
in
a
foreign
land
,
there
was
an
obscure
but
grateful
individual
in
London
who
wept
over
his
first
reverses
,
but
who
laughed
,
and
sang
,
and
danced
for
joy
when
the
newspapers
brought
the
tidings
of
his
great
battles
.
And
that
individual
was
myself
:
for
he
was
my
saviour
—
my
guardian
angel
—
my
benefactor
!
Instead
of
heaping
curses
upon
me
,
he
had
spoken
kind
words
of
forgiveness
and
encouragement
:
instead
of
spurning
me
from
his
presence
,
he
had
given
me
money
,
and
told
me
to
look
upon
him
as
my
friend
!
My
God
!
such
a
man
as
that
can
save
more
souls
and
redeem
more
sinners
than
all
the
Bishops
that
ever
wore
lawn
sleeves
!
I
adore
his
very
name
—
I
worship
him
—
I
am
as
proud
of
his
greatness
as
if
he
was
my
own
son
;
and
all
Prince
though
he
now
is
,
did
it
depend
upon
me
,
he
should
wear
a
crown
.
"
And
as
he
spoke
,
the
grateful
man
's
voice
became
tremulous
with
emotions
;
and
the
big
tears
rolled
down
his
cheeks
.
There
was
at
that
moment
something
so
commanding
—
something
so
superior
about
even
this
vulgar
individual
,
that
Chichester
and
Harborough
found
themselves
unable
to
reply
to
him
in
that
strain
of
levity
with
which
they
would
have
gladly
sought
to
sneer
away
his
eulogies
of
one
whom
they
hated
and
feared
.
"
Yes
,
"
continued
Pocock
:
"
all
I
possess
in
the
world
I
owe
to
the
Prince
of
Montoni
.
I
am
now
at
my
ease
—
I
live
in
my
own
house
,
bought
with
my
own
hard-earned
money
:
—
I
can
even
afford
to
take
a
little
pleasure
,
or
an
occasional
ramble
,
as
I
was
doing
just
now
when
accident
brought
me
here
.
And
,
what
is
more
,
I
always
have
a
five-pound
note
to
assist
a
friend
.
You
cannot
wonder
,
then
,
if
I
worship
the
very
name
of
that
man
who
from
a
comparatively
humble
rank
has
raised
himself
to
such
a
proud
height
by
his
valour
and
his
virtues
.
"
"
But
what
has
all
this
to
do
with
your
anxiety
to
see
the
baronet
and
me
?
"
inquired
Chichester
,
in
a
tone
displaying
little
of
its
wonted
assurance
.
"
A
great
deal
,
"
answered
Pocock
.
"
I
only
want
an
opportunity
to
show
the
Prince
how
grateful
I
am
to
him
;
and
for
that
reason
have
I
looked
out
for
you
.
Great
,
powerful
,
and
rich
as
he
now
is
,
the
memory
of
the
past
cannot
oppress
him
;
but
still
it
would
be
satisfactory
to
his
noble
mind
to
receive
from
both
of
you
the
same
confession
of
his
innocence
that
he
has
had
from
me
.
"
"
What
?
"
cried
the
baronet
and
Chichester
together
,
as
they
exchanged
troubled
glances
.
"
Yes
—
you
know
what
I
mean
,
"
said
Pocock
;
"
and
you
dare
not
refuse
me
.
Although
it
is
my
duty
,
perhaps
,
to
step
up
stairs
and
quietly
explain
to
the
people
there
what
kind
of
acquaintances
they
have
got
in
you
,
yet
the
honour
of
the
Prince
is
uppermost
with
me
;
and
I
will
not
expose
you
,
if
you
at
once
write
out
and
sign
a
paper
saying
that
he
was
innocent
and
you
was
the
guilty
cause
of
his
misfortunes
.
"
"
Impossible
!
"
cried
Harborough
.
"
He
would
transport
us
!
"
ejaculated
Chichester
,
turning
deadly
pale
.
"
And
no
great
harm
if
he
did
,
"
said
the
engraver
,
drily
.
"
But
consideration
for
me
will
prevent
his
punishing
you
.
So
if
you
value
the
friendship
of
your
chums
up
stairs
—
—
"
"
It
would
never
do
to
be
shown
up
before
them
!
"
whispered
the
baronet
with
desperate
emphasis
to
Chichester
,
whom
he
drew
partially
aside
for
a
moment
.
"
You
will
pledge
yourself
not
to
show
to
any
one
,
save
the
Prince
,
the
paper
you
require
of
us
?
"
asked
Chichester
of
the
engraver
.
"
When
once
you
've
given
me
that
paper
,
I
want
to
know
nothing
more
of
you
or
your
pursuits
,
"
replied
Pocock
.
The
two
gentlemen
exchanged
a
few
hurried
whispers
,
and
then
signified
their
assent
to
the
arrangement
proposed
;
for
they
found
Egerton
's
purse
too
useful
a
means
to
have
recourse
to
at
pleasure
,
to
allow
them
to
risk
the
loss
of
their
influence
over
him
.
There
were
writing-materials
in
the
room
where
the
above
conversation
took
place
;
and
the
document
was
speedily
drawn
up
.
Chichester
wrote
it
,
under
the
supervision
of
Pocock
,
who
would
not
allow
him
to
abate
one
single
tittle
of
all
the
infamy
which
characterised
the
proceedings
that
had
engendered
the
misfortunes
of
Richard
Markham
.
The
paper
was
then
duly
signed
,
and
delivered
into
the
hands
of
the
engraver
.
"
Now
that
this
little
business
is
settled
,
"
said
he
,
"
perhaps
you
two
gentlemen
will
just
allow
me
to
observe
that
I
have
found
an
honest
way
of
life
much
happier
than
a
dishonest
one
,
and
quite
as
easy
to
pursue
,
if
you
only
have
the
will
;
but
whether
you
'll
profit
by
this
advice
or
not
,
is
more
than
I
can
say
—
and
certainly
much
more
than
I
should
like
to
answer
for
.
"
With
these
words
Pocock
took
his
departure
,
the
dog
following
close
at
his
heels
.
Chichester
and
Harborough
exchanged
looks
expressive
of
mingled
vexation
and
contempt
,
and
then
returned
to
the
drawing-room
.
The
vehicles
were
almost
immediately
afterwards
driven
round
to
the
principal
entrance
;
and
the
company
were
on
the
point
of
leaving
the
apartment
where
the
festivities
had
been
so
unpleasantly
interrupted
,
when
an
ejaculation
which
escaped
the
lips
of
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
who
was
gazing
from
the
window
,
caused
them
all
to
hasten
to
the
casements
.
A
travelling
barouche
was
rapidly
approaching
the
mansion
!
CHAPTER
CCXLVIII
.
AN
UNPLEASANT
EXPOSURE
.
Egerton
's
countenance
grew
pale
as
death
when
he
beheld
that
carriage
hastening
through
the
Park
towards
the
entrance
of
the
Hall
.
Dunstable
perceived
and
understood
his
fear
;
and
he
himself
experienced
no
little
dread
lest
the
approaching
vehicle
should
contain
Lady
Ravensworth
.
But
,
in
the
next
moment
,
this
suspicion
vanished
;
for
it
did
not
seem
probable
that
her
ladyship
would
return
to
a
mansion
totally
unprepared
to
receive
her
.
The
old
gardener
was
,
however
,
now
shaking
with
a
new
alarm
;
and
the
departure
was
hurried
as
much
as
possible
:
but
the
travelling
barouche
had
stopped
near
the
entrance
of
the
Hall
ere
Egerton
's
party
had
reached
the
bottom
of
the
great
staircase
.
There
was
no
male
domestic
in
attendance
upon
the
carriage
:
the
postillion
accordingly
alighted
from
his
horse
,
opened
the
door
,
and
assisted
two
females
,
both
clad
in
deep
mourning
,
to
descend
.
Of
those
females
,
one
was
evidently
a
lady
,
and
the
other
her
maid
.
The
former
raised
her
black
veil
,
immediately
upon
alighting
,
and
gazed
in
astonishment
upon
the
three
vehicles
which
had
prevented
her
own
from
drawing-up
immediately
against
the
steps
of
the
principal
entrance
.
By
this
time
Egerton
's
party
,
followed
by
the
old
gardener
,
who
was
doing
his
best
to
hurry
the
intruders
away
,
had
reached
the
portico
;
and
it
was
at
this
precise
moment
that
the
lady
raised
her
veil
on
descending
from
the
barouche
.
Cholmondeley
and
Dunstable
started
;
and
the
former
exclaimed
,
"
Lady
Ravensworth
!
"
Then
,
recovering
his
wonted
self-command
,
he
advanced
towards
Adeline
,
raised
his
hat
,
and
said
,
"
Your
ladyship
is
doubtless
astonished
to
see
so
large
a
party
at
Ravensworth
Hall
;
but
if
you
will
permit
me
to
speak
to
you
five
words
in
private
—
"
"
I
have
no
secrets
to
discuss
with
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
"
interrupted
Adeline
,
in
a
tone
of
freezing
hauteur
and
yet
of
deep
dejection
:
then
,
turning
towards
Mrs.
Bustard
,
who
had
thrust
herself
forward
to
learn
why
the
arrival
of
a
barouche
containing
a
lady
and
her
female
attendant
had
produced
such
a
singular
excitement
amongst
the
gentlemen
of
the
party
,
she
said
,
"
May
I
be
permitted
to
inquire
,
madam
,
the
meaning
of
this
assembly
on
the
day
of
my
return
?
"
"
If
you
'll
tell
me
fust
,
ma'am
,
who
you
are
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Bustard
,
"
may
be
I
'll
satisfy
you
.
"
"
I
am
Lady
Ravensworth
,
"
was
the
dignified
answer
.
"
Well
then
,
my
lady
,
all
I
can
say
is
—
and
which
I
do
on
the
part
of
my
nephew
Albert
—
that
you
're
quite
welcome
to
occupy
a
room
or
two
in
this
edifisk
until
such
times
as
you
can
provide
yourself
with
another
place
—
—
"
"
My
dear
aunt
,
allow
me
to
explain
myself
to
Lady
Ravensworth
,
"
exclaimed
Egerton
,
now
stepping
forward
.
"
Eh
—
do
,
my
boy
,
"
cried
Mrs.
Bustard
,
whose
voice
was
somewhat
husky
with
champagne
,
and
whose
sight
,
from
the
same
cause
,
was
a
little
dizzy
—
so
that
she
did
not
perceive
the
glance
of
mingled
anger
and
astonishment
which
Adeline
threw
upon
her
while
she
was
so
politely
offering
her
ladyship
the
use
of
apartments
in
Ravensworth
Hall
.
"
Lady
Ravensworth
,
permit
me
—
one
word
,
I
implore
you
!
"
said
Lord
Dunstable
,
in
an
under
tone
,
as
he
advanced
before
Egerton
.
"
Is
this
mystery
to
be
explained
to
me
at
all
?
"
cried
Adeline
.
"
Lord
Dunstable
,
I
have
no
better
reason
to
grant
a
private
interview
to
you
than
to
your
friend
Colonel
Cholmondeley
:
I
therefore
hope
that
,
without
farther
delay
,
you
will
inform
me
to
what
circumstance
I
am
to
attribute
the
honour
which
my
poor
mansion
has
experienced
by
receiving
so
large
a
party
during
my
absence
.
"
"
Her
mansion
,
indeed
!
"
said
Mrs.
Bustard
,
with
an
indignant
toss
of
the
head
,
as
she
turned
towards
her
daughters
and
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
,
all
of
whom
remained
mute
spectators
of
a
scene
which
was
to
them
totally
inexplicable
.
"
Upon
me
must
the
weight
of
your
ladyship
's
anger
fall
,
"
said
Egerton
,
again
advancing
,
and
mustering
up
all
his
courage
to
afford
the
requisite
explanation
.
"
No
such
a
thing
!
"
cried
Mrs.
Bustard
.
"
What
right
has
the
lady
to
be
angry
?
Because
her
house
was
put
up
for
sale
,
and
you
bought
it
—
—
"
"
Abraham
,
will
you
explain
this
enigma
?
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
turning
impatiently
towards
the
gardener
,
whom
she
suddenly
discovered
peering
from
behind
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
.
"
Why
,
my
lady
,
"
said
the
old
man
,
twisting
his
paper
cap
over
and
over
in
his
hands
as
he
dragged
himself
irresolutely
forward
,
"
your
ladyship
sees
these
wery
respectable
folk
—
leastways
,
respectable
as
far
as
I
know
anythink
to
the
contrairey
,
—
for
my
maxim
is
,
my
lady
—
as
I
often
says
to
my
old
'
ooman
—
says
I
—
at
such
times
when
she
says
,
says
she
—
—
"
Adeline
actually
stamped
her
foot
with
impatience
.
"
I
'm
a-coming
to
the
pint
,
my
lady
,
"
continued
the
gardener
,
now
completely
crushing
the
paper
cap
in
his
hand
;
"
and
in
doing
that
,
my
lady
,
I
must
ax
your
ladyship
's
pardon
—
'
cos
I
'm
a
poor
simple
old
man
which
ca
n't
boast
of
much
edication
—
leastways
,
as
I
says
to
my
old
'
ooman
—
—
"
"
This
is
insupportable
!
"
cried
Adeline
.
"
In
one
word
,
did
you
not
receive
my
letter
stating
that
it
was
my
intention
to
return
to
the
Hall
this
week
?
"
"
No
,
my
lady
—
no
such
a
letter
ever
come
,
"
answered
the
gardener
.
"
But
you
can
perhaps
inform
me
in
two
words
how
these
ladies
and
gentlemen
happened
to
honour
my
house
with
their
presence
?
"
said
Adeline
,
speaking
in
a
severe
tone
.
"
Your
house
,
ma'am
!
"
shouted
Mrs.
Bustard
,
her
countenance
becoming
purple
with
indignation
:
"
no
such
a
thing
!
It
's
my
nephew
's
—
he
bought
it
—
and
he
is
here
to
tell
you
so
!
"
Thus
speaking
,
she
thrust
Egerton
forward
.
"
My
dear
aunt
,
"
said
the
young
man
,
tears
starting
into
his
eyes
,
"
I
have
deceived
you
!
I
am
sorry
for
the
cheat
which
I
have
practised
upon
you
:
but
the
truth
is
—
—
"
"
Do
n't
tell
me
no
more
!
"
cried
Mrs.
Bustard
.
"
I
see
it
all
.
It
's
a
hoax
—
a
shameful
hoax
!
And
I
should
n't
wonder
if
your
Lord
and
your
Baronet
and
your
Honourables
are
all
as
Brummagem
as
your
title
to
this
edifisk
.
Come
,
Tedworth
—
come
,
gals
:
let
's
get
back
to
the
Pavement
.
This
is
no
place
for
us
.
"
And
having
thus
expressed
herself
,
Mrs.
Bustard
bounced
down
the
steps
and
clambered
like
an
irritated
elephant
into
the
glass-coach
,
followed
by
her
five
daughters
.
Mr.
Jones
then
mounted
to
the
dickey
;
the
seedy
coachman
whipped
the
horses
;
and
the
crazy
old
vehicle
rattled
away
.
Lady
Ravensworth
,
attended
by
her
maid
,
passed
into
the
mansion
without
bestowing
any
farther
notice
on
the
gentlemen
who
still
lingered
upon
the
steps
;
and
when
she
had
thus
disappeared
,
they
hastened
to
take
their
departure
for
London
,
Egerton
in
a
state
of
mind
enviable
only
by
a
man
about
to
be
hanged
.
For
nearly
two
years
had
Adeline
been
a
voluntary
exile
from
her
native
land
;
and
,
in
the
seclusion
of
a
charming
villa
in
the
south
of
France
,
she
had
devoted
herself
to
the
care
of
her
child
,
whom
the
gipsy
Morcar
had
so
miraculously
saved
from
death
.
She
also
endeavoured
,
by
the
exercise
of
charity
and
a
constant
attention
to
her
devotions
,
to
atone
for
the
crimes
which
she
had
committed
;
but
,
though
deeply
penitent
,
her
soul
could
not
stifle
the
pangs
of
an
intense
remorse
.
And
thus
had
many
—
many
sleepless
nights
—
often
rendered
terrible
by
the
shade
of
the
murdered
Lydia
—
dimmed
the
fires
of
Adeline
's
eyes
,
and
given
to
her
cheeks
the
pallor
of
marble
!
Her
only
solace
was
her
child
,
on
whom
she
doated
with
all
the
affection
which
can
be
bestowed
by
a
heart
that
has
nothing
else
to
love
—
nothing
else
to
render
existence
even
tolerable
.
The
more
she
alienated
her
mind
from
the
frivolities
and
levities
which
had
occupied
her
when
she
was
a
brilliant
star
in
the
galaxy
of
London
fashion
,
—
and
the
more
successfully
she
wrestled
with
those
burning
passions
which
had
rendered
her
the
willing
victim
of
the
seducer
,
even
in
her
girlhood
,
—
so
much
the
more
profound
became
her
affection
for
the
infant
Ferdinand
.
But
that
consolation
was
not
to
endure
.
Five
months
before
her
return
to
England
the
boy
was
snatched
away
from
her
,
—
suddenly
snatched
away
by
the
rude
hand
of
Fever
,
as
the
rose-bud
is
cropped
by
the
bleak
north
wind
.
Then
how
desolate
became
the
heart
of
Adeline
!
She
felt
that
her
punishment
had
not
yet
ceased
on
earth
.
No
longer
were
there
charms
for
her
in
a
foreign
land
;
and
she
panted
to
return
to
her
native
clime
.
For
some
weeks
she
wrestled
against
this
inclination
;
but
having
imparted
her
desire
to
Eliza
Sydney
,
with
whom
she
regularly
corresponded
,
a
letter
from
that
excellent
lady
set
her
mind
at
ease
as
to
the
expediency
of
revisiting
England
.
Eliza
offered
no
argument
against
the
project
;
and
Lady
Ravensworth
accordingly
hastened
her
preparations
for
a
departure
from
the
south
of
France
.
The
faithful
Quentin
was
still
in
her
service
;
but
the
English
lady's-maid
,
who
had
followed
Adeline
to
the
Continent
,
had
married
and
settled
in
France
.
A
French
woman
,
therefore
,
supplied
her
place
;
and
it
was
this
foreign
servant
who
accompanied
Lady
Ravensworth
on
her
return
to
the
Hall
.
Adeline
's
desire
was
to
retrace
her
way
in
privacy
to
the
mansion
which
,
according
to
the
conditions
of
her
late
husband
's
will
,
had
become
her
own
—
for
there
was
now
no
male
heir
to
the
proud
title
and
broad
lands
of
Ravensworth
:
and
her
intention
was
to
dwell
in
the
strictest
retirement
at
the
mansion
.
She
had
written
to
the
gardener
to
command
him
to
prepare
for
her
return
;
but
,
by
some
accident
,
the
letter
had
miscarried
—
and
hence
the
old
man
's
ignorance
of
the
approach
of
his
mistress
.
On
her
arrival
,
by
the
Calais
steam-packet
,
at
London
Bridge
,
Adeline
had
left
Quentin
to
clear
the
baggage
at
the
Custom-House
,
and
had
proceeded
direct
to
the
Hall
.
The
incidents
which
immediately
followed
her
arrival
are
already
known
to
the
reader
.
It
may
,
however
,
appear
strange
that
Adeline
should
come
back
to
a
dwelling
where
she
had
suffered
so
much
,
and
which
could
not
fail
to
recall
to
her
with
renewed
force
the
black
crime
which
lay
so
heavily
upon
her
conscience
.
But
her
mind
was
in
that
morbid
state
which
is
so
well
calculated
to
engender
idiosyncratic
ideas
;
and
she
believed
that
the
very
fact
of
her
return
to
the
scene
of
her
enormity
would
prove
a
penance
most
salutary
to
her
soul
.
Such
purely
Roman
Catholic
sentiments
are
frequently
found
exercising
a
deep
influence
over
minds
which
contrition
for
great
crimes
has
disposed
to
superstitious
tendencies
.
There
were
also
considerations
of
a
more
worldly
nature
which
to
some
extent
urged
Lady
Ravensworth
to
return
to
the
Hall
.
She
loathed
the
idea
of
dwelling
amidst
the
noise
,
the
din
,
and
the
crowds
of
the
metropolis
:
she
craved
for
the
retirement
of
the
country
.
Whither
,
then
,
could
she
repair
save
to
the
mansion
which
was
