The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

184 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ) ‘Now, young woman,” exclaimed the constable, ‘ don’t you hear that your mistress orders you to speak out? You need not be afraid; this man can do you no harm now.”’ ‘“T think I can tell the story for her,’’ observed the steward, naturally fancying that Lucilla was cowed and overawed by the terror of the Cannibal’s presence. ‘“‘ The fact is, sir,” he went on to say, addressing the head constable, ‘ there was a sort of burglarious entrance effected here a few weeks back. The maid there was alarmed by the entrance of persons into the room where she slept, and now, as you per- ~ ceive, she has recognized the voice of one of them.” The steward did not at the time remember the injunction which he himself, as well as all the other servants, had re- ceived from Mr. Denison and Mr. Hawkshaw not to give publicity to the incident which he had been explaining. In the excitement of the present circumstance he utterly lost sight of that imjunction. “This grows very serious,’ observed the head constable, and now he surveyed Chiffin more attentively than he had previously done, ‘‘ Either I have seen you before,” -he went on to say, in asort of musing tone, “‘ or else I have read a very accurate description of you.”’ ‘““ No, not of me, sir,’’ responded the Cannibal; “ it’s quite a mistake. Iam an honest, hard-working man.’’ ‘What is your name, where do you live, and ean you get anybody to speak to your character? ’’ demanded the constable. ‘““My name is Brown, sir, I live in London when I’m at home. Ask his lordship there whether I ain’t a very respect- able man.”’ “Faith, I know nothing at all about you,” ejaculated Saxondale, with a supercilious hauteur. “ All I know is that you delivered me out of a certain place; and if I had met you, and you had asked for a reward, I should certainly have given it.” Meanwhile the head constable had been scrutinizing Chif- fin with still more minuteness, until his original suspicion was confirmed, that in some way or another the fellow, both by his features and his dress, was not altogether unfamiliar to him. Recollecting that he had a bundle of certain papers in his possession, he drew them forth, and stepping somewhat aside, began turning them over, one after the other, by the aid ) (E(0) CONNIE OO KS