The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

LINKS IN THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE © 359 By the bye, if I recollect aright, he will be of age in the course of afew days. I heard one of the tenants saying so yesterday morning, and the man was wondering whether there would be any festivities at the castle. But it would appear that no instructions have been received to make preparations for the reception of the family, and therefore I suppose no rejoicings are to take place.”’ At this point of the conversation Mr. Denison and Mr. Hawkshaw reached a spot where the road turned off toward Gainsborough in one direction, and whence there was a by- lane leading by a circuitous route to the former gentleman’s residence in another direction. Here therefore they parted, and the squire continued his way toward the town. Find- ing that he was a little behind his time for the appointment which he had to keep, he turned out of the road, in order to take a short cut across the fields, and in so doing, he drew near to the river’s bank, at no great distance from Saxondale Castle. There had recently been a flood, caused by the heavy rains, which had made the Trent overflow and inundate the adjacent fields to a very considerable extent, thereby causing much damage. The bailiff of the Saxondale estate had con- sequently deemed it necessary to heighten the bank in the particular place where the swollen river had poured its surplus upon the meadows, and several labourers were now busily engaged on this work. As Mr. Hawkshaw drew near the place just alluded to, it struck him that he beheld some sensation amongst the labourers, five or six of whom were grouped in a particular spot, and appeared to be occupied in the examination of something which they were passing from one to another. The moment they saw the squire, they rushed toward him, the foremost carrying a pistol, while their ejaculations at once afforded a clue to the comprehension of the excitement which animated them. “This is the thing that did the deed!” exclaimed one. “There can be no doubt of it!— double-barrelled! ”’ cried another. ‘Who knows but what it will all be found out now?” remarked a third. ‘‘ Poor creatures! it was a shocking murder.’’ “ Here, sir,’ exclaimed the man who carried the pistol, CONNIE DOOKS (S(O)