The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

THE HEAD CONSTABLE 179 which had been stolen from me, — yes, stolen from me, — I would not listen to another word she might have to say. And now, my dear sir, with your good sense, and with your delicate appreciation of circumstances, you can un- derstand how it was that I did not choose to recognize that dress, even when inspecting it closely, on its being displayed by the labouring man yesterday.”’ “To be sure not,’ exclaimed the constable. ‘‘ Your ladyship was not to place yourself in the position of giving explanations to a peasant, and before all the members of your household.”’ The official was indeed completely satisfied of the truth of every word which Lady Saxondale had spoken, for such was the seeming frankness of her manner and the candid openness of her look, that it was impossible to doubt her sincerity. ‘‘ And now,” she asked, “ are there any other particulars which I can give you? ”’ ‘None, my lady,’”’ responded the constable, after a few moments’ reflection. “ Of course,’ she went on to say, “‘ you will keep to your- self all that I have been telling you, for my daughter-in- law is dotingly attached to Lord Saxondale, and I do not mind confessing to you she is exceedingly jealous. There- fore, if she heard that my son had ever been engaged in such a liaison with an opera-dancer, she would be very unhappy; and inasmuch as these circumstances cannot really have the slightest connection with any clue to the discovery of the assassins of those unfortunate women, it would be a mere wanton infliction of pain upon certain members of my family, indeed, upon us all, if the particulars were flung abroad to be caught up by the greedy tongue of scan- dal.” ‘Your ladyship may depend upon my discretion,” re- sponded the constable, as he rose to take his departure. At this moment strange sounds reached the ears of Lady paxondale and the constable, ejaculations loud and ve- hement, hurried and excited cries, as if the castle were on fire, or as if an attack were being made by banditti and the household were being summoned to resistance. Her ladyship started up with some suspicion of a new calamity; the constable listened with all his ears, ‘as if thinking that ) COnNIEDOOKS (C(O) (