The Argosy — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

186 Lhe Master of Greylands. heard the news about his brother!” added Miles. ‘“‘ His lips and face had no more red in them than ¢#hat”—pointing to a snow-drop under the wall. ‘* He looked just hke a man who has got a shock.” It was of no use for John Bent to linger. Anthony Castlemaine was not to be heard of at Greylands’ Rest. The Dolphin Inn was a crowded place that day, and its landlord the centre of attraction. People were in and out incessantly, listening to the singular history. Numbers flocked to the Fnar’s Keep, and to every other spot in Greylands likely or unlikely for a man to be hidden in dead or living ; but there was no trace anywhere of the presence of Anthony Castlemaine. Setting aside the disappearance, the tale itself excited wonder ; and that part of it relating to the entrance into the chapel ruins of Mr. Castlemaine, and the*subsequent sound of a shot and cry, and of the locked gate, was received by some with incredulity. Opinions were hazarded that the landlord’s eyes might have deceived him ; his ears and his fingers played him false; that Mr. Castlemaine must have been altogether a myth; the supposed locked gate been only his awkwardness, and the shot and cry nothing but the scream of a sea-bird. In this one latter point, however, John Bent’s account was established by other testimony; coming, singular to say, from the Grey Ladies. It appeared that Sister Mildred was very ill that night, and two of the others sat up with her, Sister Mona and Sister Ann. The room of Sister Mildred faced the sea, and was the last room at the end next the chapel ruins. As the ladies sat there watching in the stillness of the night, they were suddenly startled by the sound of a shot, and by a scream as from some one wounded. In the afternoon Mr. Castlemaine returned from Stilborough. The commotion rendered it impossible for him to remain long ignorant of what had taken place, and of the manner in which his name was mixed up with it. He could not fail to see that some suspicion must attach to himself in the public mind ; that the alleged story, taken in conjunction with previous facts: the pretensions of his nephew to Greylands’ Rest, and their hostile meeting in the fields earlier in the day: must inevitably excite doubt and comment. Proud, haughty, and self-contained though the Master of Greylands was, this matter was of too grave a nature, and might bring too many unpleasant consequences in its train, for him to ignore it. He deemed it well to throw himself forthwith into the battle ; and he went straight to the Dolphin. On his way he encountered Commodore Teague. The latter had been out since early morning, in his cutter—as he was apt to call that sailing-boat of his—and had but just heard his story. A few exchanged sentences, and Mr. Castlemaine proceeded to the inn. ‘What zs this absurd story?” he demanded of John Bent, hfting his hat, as he entered the best kitchen, to the knot of» people assembled there. I cannot make head or tail of it.” ECORNICLOOO SS (CO) in —_)