Cora and The Doctor; or, Revelations of A Physician's WifeLeslie, Madeline
General
Cora and The Doctor; or, Revelations of A Physician's Wife
Leslie, Madeline
Physicians -- Fiction
"'Yes; he said he wanted a new checked satin one, hanging in his
wardrobe.'
"I had heard enough; and bidding the jailer good morning, I stopped at
the court-room only long enough to take a sheriff, and proceeded to Lee
Hall. Without imparting my suspicions to my companion or to the keeper
of the house, I merely told them that I wished once more to examine the
room occupied by Mr. Colby; and notwithstanding the doubt of finding
anything new, expressed by the keeper, I walked straight to the
wardrobe, and took down every vest hanging there.
"After laying them upon the bed, I proceeded, (not very deliberately, I
confess) to examine the pockets and to see if I could discover any inner
pockets. But no, the keeper standing by said, as I laid one down after
another, 'them are clothes has all undergone a thorough _castigation_,
and there ha'n't nothing been found in 'em.'
"Hardly knowing why, I took up again the thick black satin vest, and
walked to the window. My heart almost stopped beating, as I saw that a
slit had been cut in the lining, and carefully sewed up again. Quick as
lightning, I cut the thread, put in my fingers, drew out the very
document of which I was in search, and the note of hand within it. I
sprang full two feet from the floor, as I discovered the treasure, and
my companions echoed and reechoed my shout of delight. I hastened to the
court-room with my important rebutting testimony," said he with a smile,
"and you know the result."
Allen Mansfield was so excited during this relation that he had to sit
down two or three times, and then forgetting himself he started from his
seat. When Mr. Willard had finished his remarkable story, he found that
his circle of hearers had greatly increased since the commencement of
his narrative. Not only Mr. Marshall, the Attorney General, the
Counsellors for the defence, and a score of Reporters but the Judge from
the bench had pressed around him to learn how so important a mystery had
been revealed. He then received the warm congratulations of all his
associates at the bar, for his success, and at the favorable termination
of the suit.
Mr. Mansfield begged the Doctor and myself to communicate the result of
the trial to Lucy. We did so, but found her suffering so severely from
nervous excitement, that my husband judged it wiser to avoid
particulars, and merely to inform her that the suit had resulted in her
favor. A deep sigh, with the words, "Oh! my poor brother Joseph!" were
all her reply.
It was now past three o'clock, and I hastened to my babies, and
communicated the sad story to mother. In consequence of losing my sleep
the previous night, I did not rise till quite late on Thursday morning.
When I went below, a man was just leaving the hall; and as Frank shut
the door after him, I heard him say, "Oh! how shocking!" He immediately
prepared to go out.
"My dear husband," I said, "something dreadful has happened, I perceive
by your looks. Don't be afraid to tell me. I fear Lucy"--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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