Pelham — Complete
Page 78
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
Away with him to prison--where is the provost?--Measure for Measure.
I returned home, perplexed by a thousand contradictory thoughts upon thescene I had just witnessed; the more I reflected, the more I regrettedthe fatality of the circumstances, that had tempted Glanville to accedeto Thornton's demand; true it was, that Thornton's self-regard might bedeemed a sufficient guarantee for his concealment of such extortionatetransactions: moreover, it was difficult to say, when the formidablearray of appearances against Glanville was considered, whether any otherline of conduct than that which he had adopted, could, with any safety,have been pursued.
His feelings too, with regard to the unfortunate Gertrude, I couldfully enter into, and sympathize with: but, in spite of all theseconsiderations, it was with an inexpressible aversion that Icontemplated the idea of that tacit confession of guilt, which hiscompliance with Thornton's exactions so unhappily implied; it was,therefore, a thought of some satisfaction, that my rash and hastyadvice, of a still further concession to those extortions, had notbeen acceded to. My present intention was, in the event of Glanville'spersevering to reject my offer of accompanying him, to remain inEngland, for the purpose of sifting the murder, nor did I despair ofaccomplishing this most desirable end, through the means of Dawson; forthere was but little doubt in my own mind that Thornton and himselfwere the murderers, and I hoped that address or intimidation might wina confession from Dawson, although it might probably be unavailing withhis hardened and crafty associate.
Occupied with these thoughts, I endeavoured to while away the hourstill the evening summoned me once more to the principal object of myreflections. Directly Glanville's door was opened, I saw by one glance,that I had come too late; the whole house was in confusion; several ofthe servants were in the hall, conferring with each other, with thatmingled mystery and agitation which always accompany the fears andconjectures of the lower classes. I took aside the valet, who had livedwith Glanville for some years, and who was remarkably attached to hismaster, and learnt, that somewhat more than an hour before. Mr. Thorntonhad returned to the house accompanied by three men of very suspiciousappearance. "In short, Sir," said the man, lowering his voice to awhisper, "I knew one of them by sight; he was Mr. S., the Bowstreetofficer; with these men, Sir Reginald left the house, merely saying, inhis usual quiet manner, that he did not know when he should return."
I concealed my perturbation, and endeavoured, as far as I was able,to quiet the evident apprehensions of the servant. "At all events,Seymour," said I, "I know that I may trust you sufficiently, to warn youagainst mentioning the circumstance any farther; above all, let me begof you to stop the mouths of those idle loiterers in the hall--and,be sure, that you do not give any unnecessary alarm to Lady and MissGlanville."
The poor man promised, with tears in his eyes, that he would obey myinjunctions; and with a calm face, but a sickening heart, I turned awayfrom the house. I knew not where to direct my wanderings; fortunately,I recollected that I should, in all probability, be among the firstwitnesses summoned on Glanville's examination, and that, perhaps, bythe time I reached home, I might already receive an intimation to thateffect; accordingly, I retraced my steps, and, on re-entering my hotel,was told by the waiter, with a mysterious air, that a gentleman waswaiting to see me. Seated by the window in my room, and wiping hisforehead with a red silk pocket-handkerchief, was a short, thickset man,with a fiery and rugose complexion, not altogether unlike the aspectof a mulberry; from underneath a pair of shaggy brows, peeped twosingularly small eyes, which made ample amends by their fire, for theirdeficiency in size--they were black, brisk, and somewhat fierce in theirexpression; a nose, of that shape, vulgarly termed bottle, formed the"arch sublime," the bridge, the twilight as it were, between the purplesun-set of one cheek, and the glowing sun-rise of the other. Hismouth was small, and drawn up on each corner, like a purse--there wassomething sour and crabbed about it; if it was like a purse, it was thepurse of a miser: a fair round chin had not been condemned to singleblessedness--on the contrary, it was like a farmer's pillion, andcarried double; on either side of a very low forehead, hedged round byclosely mowed bristles, of a dingy black, were two enormous ears, of thesame intensely rubicund colour as that inflamed pendant of flesh whichadorns the throat of an enraged turkey-cock; ears so large, and so red,I never beheld before--they were something preposterous.
This enchanting figure, which was attired in a sober suit of leadenblack, relieved by a long, gold watch-chain, and a plentiful decorationof seals, rose at my entrance, with a solemn grunt, and a still moresolemn bow. I shut the door carefully, and asked him his business:--asI had foreseen, it was a request from the magistrate at--, to attend aprivate examination on the ensuing day.
"Sad thing, Sir, sad thing," said Mr.--, "it would be quite shocking tohang a gentleman of Sir Reginald Glanville's quality--so distinguishedan orator too; sad thing, Sir,--very sad thing."
"Oh!" said I, quietly, "there is not a doubt as to Sir Reginald'sinnocence of the crime laid to him; and, probably, Mr.--, I may call inyour assistance to-morrow, to ascertain the real murderers--I think I ampossessed of some clue."
Mr.--pricked up his ears--those enormous ears. "Sir," he said, "I shallbe happy to accompany you--very happy; give me the clue you speak of,and I will soon find the villains. Horrid thing, Sir, murder--veryhorrid. It's too hard that a gentleman cannot take his ride home froma race, or a merry-making, but he must have his throat cut from ear toear--ear to ear, Sir;" and with these words, the speaker's own auricularprotuberances seemed to glow, as if in conscious horror, with a doublecarnation.
"Very true, Mr.--!" said I; "say I will certainly attend theexamination--till then, good bye!" At this hint, my fiery faced friendmade me a low bow, and blazed out of the room, like the ghost of akitchen fire.
Left to myself, I revolved, earnestly and anxiously, every thing thatcould tend to diminish the appearances against Glanville, and directsuspicion to that quarter where I was confident the guilt rested. Inthis endeavour I passed the time till morning, when I fell into anuneasy slumber, which lasted some hours; when I awoke, it was almosttime to attend the magistrate's appointment. I dressed hastily, and soonfound myself in the room of inquisition.
It is impossible to conceive a more courteous, and, yet, more equitableman, than the magistrate whom I had the honour of attending. He spokewith great feeling on the subject for which I was summoned--owned to me,that Thornton's statement was very clear and forcible--trusted that myevidence would contradict an account which he was very loth to believe;and then proceeded to the question. I saw, with an agony which I canscarcely express, that all my answers made powerfully against the causeI endeavoured to support. I was obliged to own, that a man on horsebackpassed me soon after Tyrrell had quitted me; that, on coming to thespot where the deceased was found, I saw this same horseman on the veryplace; that I believed, nay, that I was sure (how could I evade this),that that man was Sir Reginald Glanville.
Farther evidence, Thornton had already offered to adduce. He couldprove, that the said horseman had been mounted on a grey horse, sold toa person answering exactly to the description of Sir Reginald Glanville;moreover, that that horse was yet in the stables of the prisoner. Heproduced a letter, which, he said, he had found upon the person of thedeceased, signed by Sir Reginald Glanville, and containing the mostdeadly threats against his life; and, to crown all, he called upon me towitness, that we had both discovered upon the spot where the murder wascommitted, a picture belonging to the prisoner, since restored to him,and now in his possession.
At the close of this examination, the worthy magistrate shook his head,in evident distress! "I have known Sir Reginald Glanville personally,"said he: "in private as in public life, I have always thought him themost upright and honourable of men. I feel the greatest pain in saying,that it will be my duty fully to commit him for trial."
I interrupted the magistrate; I demanded that Dawson should be produced:"I have already," said
he, "inquired of Thornton respecting that person,whose testimony is of evident importance; he tells me, that Dawson hasleft the country, and can give me no clue to his address."
"He lies!" cried I, in the abrupt anguish of my heart; "his associateshall be produced. Hear me: I have been, next to Thornton, the chiefwitness against the prisoner, and when I swear to you, that, in spite ofall appearances, I most solemnly believe in his innocence, you may relyon my assurance, that there are circumstances in his favour, which havenot yet been considered, but which I will pledge myself hereafter toadduce." I then related to the private ear of the magistrate, my firmconviction of the guilt of the accuser himself. I dwelt forcibly uponthe circumstance of Tyrrell's having mentioned to me, that Thorntonwas aware of the large sum he had on his person, and of the strangedisappearance of that sum, when his body was examined in the fatalfield. After noting how impossible it was that Glanville couldhave stolen this money; I insisted strongly on the distressedcircumstances--the dissolute habits, and the hardened character ofThornton--I recalled to the mind of the magistrate, the singularityof Thornton's absence from home when I called there, and the doubtfulnature of his excuse: much more I said, but all equally in vain. Theonly point where I was successful, was in pressing for a delay, whichwas granted to the passionate manner in which I expressed my persuasionthat I could confirm my suspicions by much stronger data before thereprieve expired.
"It is very true," said the righteous magistrate, "that there areappearances somewhat against the witness; but certainly not tantamountto any thing above a slight suspicion. If, however, you positively thinkyou can ascertain any facts, to elucidate this mysterious crime, andpoint the inquiries of justice to another quarter, I will so far strainthe question, as to remand the prisoner to another day--let us say theday after tomorrow. If nothing important can before then be found in hisfavour, he must be committed for trial."