Charles Tyrrell; or, The Bitter Blood. Volumes I and IIJames, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
General
Charles Tyrrell; or, The Bitter Blood. Volumes I and II
James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Murder -- Fiction
The rest of the business was then speedily arranged. Six of the
smugglers were sent to the county jail, and the room was soon cleared.
The magistrates immediately called for their horses and departed; and
Sir Francis Tyrrell, knowing by Mr. Driesen's calm, cynical smile,
that he had noted every word, and tone, and look during the fit of
passion in which he had indulged, and had rather enjoyed the scene
than otherwise, turned away from a man who, with all his causticity,
had never yet given him an opportunity of quarrelling with him, took
his hat and stick, and walked out into the park.
Mr. Driesen stood at the window, looking after him for a moment with a
bitter smile; then stretched himself at length upon a sofa, took up a
book, and, wrapped up in his own selfishness, forgot in two moments a
scene which, like everything else that did not affect him personally,
passed before his eyes like the performance of a play, without in the
slightest degree affecting his heart.
In the mean while Charles Tyrrell had retired to his own room. For
several minutes he buried his face in his hands, and struggled eagerly
to suppress the tumult of angry feelings that still remained in his
bosom. He used every motive, he recollected every inducement which
could be suggested by common sense and philosophy, or the far
surpassing power of religion: but the task was a long and a difficult
one; and he was leaning with his arm on the window-sill, gazing over
the park from the open window, when a servant entered the room and
informed him that one of the gentlemen who had been below had come up
to speak with him. Believing it to be one of the magistrates, and
supposing that he had come for the purpose of effecting a
reconciliation between him and his father, Charles ordered him to be
admitted immediately; but was surprised to see the young officer who
had appeared in command of the men belonging to the revenue cutter. He
closed the door carefully behind him, and advanced towards Charles
Tyrrell with a countenance expressive of candour and frankness, but,
at the same time, of some degree of embarrassment.
"I am sorry, Mr. Tyrrell," he said, "I am really sorry to trouble you
at such a moment as this, and upon such business. But, as I was coming
along just now with the men we had taken, I met an old friend and
messmate of mine, named Arthur Hargrave, who informed me that he had
had some words with you, and that you had struck him; finding that I
was coming on here, he asked me to do what, of course, I could not
refuse, namely, to seek an opportunity of speaking with you, and
demanding either an apology or immediate satisfaction of another
kind."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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