The Argosy — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

The Master of Greylands. 189 taneously, when he might have concealed it, his hearers mentally acknowledged, and it told in his favour. But it did not lessen the perplexity, or the mist that the affair was shrouded in. He turned to depart. | “I shall at once institute a thorough search, and if necessary summon the law to my aid,” said he. ‘Not that I fear any real harm has befallen my nephew Anthony; but it will be satisfactory to ascertain where he is. I fancy he must have gone off somewhere, perhaps on some sudden and uncontemplated impulse. It may be, thathe is given to take these impromptu flights ; as was his father before him, my brother Basil.” Mr. Castlemaine passed out as he spoke, with a bend of the head to the company, and turned towards Greylands’ Rest. He was looking pale and ill; they could but notice it throughout the entire interview, and his face had a worn, sad cast of sorrow on it, never before seen there. ‘“‘ He has brought that look back from Stilborough,” remarked John Bent. ‘‘ There are bad fears, it’s whispered, about his brother’s death. But as to Mr. Anthony’s having walked off in that promiscuous manner, it’s the foolishest thought that ever was spoken.” Commodore Teague in his blue sailor’s costume came looming 1, his hands in his pockets. He had made haste down from the Hutt (having gone there to carry his gun and sundry other articles from his boat) to hear the details of the mysterious story: or, as he chose to express it, the wrongs and the nghts on’t. So John Bent once more recounted ‘the particulars, assisted by the tongues of the company—for they did not stand in awe of this lis- tener as they did of Mr. Castlemaine. The commodore listened with incredulity, not to say mdicule. “ Look here, John Bent, you may tell that tale to the marines. I can explain away some on’t myself. Bless my heart! {to think you folk should be running your head again’ all them marvels, when there ain’t none to run ’em against. That gun that went off was mine.” ** Yours.” ‘?Twas. And as to Mr. Castlemaine, you no more saw him go into the Friar’s Keep than you saw me go. Last night, I was smoking my pipe and cleaning my gun—for I meant to shoot a few birds out at sea to-day—when who should come knocking at the Hutt door but Mr. Castlemaine. He’d been feeling out of sorts, he said, and thought a sail would do him good, and would like to go with me to-day—for it seems the whole parish had heard I was going. With all my heart, I answered ; I’d be proud of his company. He sat down and took a pipe : smoking’s contagious, you know : and we talked about this and that. When he left, I watched him up the lane to his house; and I’m quite certain he did not come down again. After he was gone, I:got-to’ my, gun again, which I had laid aside when he entered. It struck twelve. befor I e (C(O) mn aa