The Argosy — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

The White Witch. 245 The inspector produced the warrant, and told him respectfully, that it had been granted that morning, on information supplied by a London detective named Power, who had been brought down from Town by Sir William Hunt. “ Now that’s talking nonsense, Macdonald,” said the irascible old gentleman. ‘‘ My good friend, William Hunt, would not send you into my house with a search-warrant. You must have made some strange mistake.” The inspector hastened to say that if there was a mistake, it was not he who had made it; he had only done as he was ordered. Whilst he was speaking, the front door bell rang loudly, and Hawkins, who had entirely lost his head in the alarm the police caused him, showed in Sir William Hunt. In a small neighbourhood, a matter of this kind—the march of the police upon one of its most important mansions—cannot be kept quiet. All kinds of versions were beginning to circulate; and Sir William Hunt, walking abroad in Cheston, had heard of them. It was a mistake ; and he had come striding over to the Abbey in deep distress and contrition, to set it right. The search-warrant applied for by the London detective, Mr. Power, to the new magistrate, ought to have been for “the Abbey Farm.” Between them they had committed the error of making it out for ‘‘ The Abbey ;” perhaps not altogether conscious that the two places were distinct. “You don’t think I’d allow such a thing, my old friend, do you ?” cried Sir William, his hands and Mr. Mayne’s locked together. “I now you'd not ; I was telling Macdonald so.” And they both relieved their ire by turning it on the inspector. ** But what does it all mean?” cried Mr. Mayne. ‘ What.is the search-warrant for? Who is being looked after ?” Sir William’s explanation took up a little time. It appeared that while he was in London with Lady Hunt, he paid a visit to Scotland Yard. He had intended to stay but a day in town; but he stayed two or three days ; and being impatient to hear whether Mr. Detective Cattermole was progressing in his search after the guilty parties, he betook himself to Scotland Yard to enquire, supposing that the detective force there received Mr. Cattermole’s reports daily. Sir William was introduced to a superior officer named Johnson, he had a long and confidential conference with him, and the result was that Mr. Johnson determined to send another detective to Croxham, to “look up” Mr. Cattermole and his dilatory proceedings. At least, that was the impression Sir William carried away with him. This second detective, Mr. Power, had now been at Croxham for two days, hard at work in secret ; and the first step he took openly was to apply for a search-warrant for the Abbey Farm, the new justice, a stranger to the place, having granted it, in error, for the Abbey. Inspector Macdonald listened to this explanation as eagerly as Mr. EONMIE OOO KS (E(@) m