The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 181: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

164 REYNOLDS’ WORKS at the fire in the servants’ hali, and had then enveloped it in the manner in which he now bore it. | * Well, my good fellow,’’ said Squire Hawkshaw, as he and Mr. Denison took their seats at the table, ‘“‘ what do you want with me? ”’ | The peasant’s explanations were speedily given, and as they were the same which have been already recorded, we need not reiterate them. Suffice it to say, he concluded by observing that he did not know whether the incident would in any way assist the course of justice, or enable its officials to resume the clue of the investigations they had made at the time, but that he considered it to be his duty to bring the case under the cognizance of a magistrate. The parcel was opened, the dress produced, and minutely inspected by Mr. Hawkshaw and Mr. Denison. ‘“And you say,’ observed the former, “ that you have shown it at Saxondale Castle, and that Lady Saxondale herself is there? ”’ The peasant replied in the affirmative. ‘Then I suppose,” continued the squire, addressing the remark to Denison, ‘‘ that her ladyship is reconciled to her son and her daughter-in-law? However, in respect to the present business, I do not see that the discovery of this dress will in any way enable the constables at Gainsborough to resume their inquiry. It may, or it may not be, that the dress was contained in the parcel which was proved to have been in the hands of the maid on the fatal evening; but oranting it is the same, there are two inferences to be drawn: either that it accidentally rolled into the river when the deed was committed, or that it was flung there by the murderer or murderers as something not worth carrying off.” ‘This latter inference, Hawkshaw, is scarcely to be de- duced,’’ observed Mr. Denison, ‘‘ for why should the assassin thus seek to dispose of the dress? Would he not have merely tossed it down on the bank, if he did not choose to take it away with him?” ‘But in any case I cannot see,’ remarked Hawkshaw, “that the discovery of this masquerading gear — for such it evidently is — can be turned to any account in further- ance of the cause of justice.’’ ‘Do you recollect,’ asked Mr. Denison, who was a shrewd and thoughtful man, ‘‘ whether the bed of the river itself EORNICELYOOL<S. EC)