"Then," said Atkins, "I ask leave to drag, and, if need be, to drain, that piece of water there, called 'the mere.'" "Drag it, or drain it, which you will," said Houseman. Said Atkins, very impressively, "And, mark my words, at the bottom of that very sheet of water there, I shall find the remains of the late Griffith Gaunt." At these solemn words, coming, as they did, not from a loose unprofessional speaker, but from a lawyer, a man who measured all his words, a very keen observer might have seen a sort of tremor run all through Mr. Houseman's frame. The more admirable was the perfect coolness and seeming indifference with which he replied. "Find him, and I'll admit suicide; find him, with signs of violence, and I'll admit homicide, by some person or persons unknown." All further remarks were interrupted by bustle and confusion. Mrs. Gaunt had fainted dead away. CHAPTER VIII Of course pity was the first feeling; but, by the time Mrs. Gaunt revived, her fainting, so soon after Mr. Atkins's proposal, had produced a sinister effect on the minds of all present; and every face showed it, except the wary Houseman's. On her retiring, it broke out first in murmurs, then in plain words. As for Mr. Atkins, he now showed the moderation of an able man who feels he has a strong cause. He merely said, "I think there should be constables about, in case of an escape being attempted; but I agree with Mr. Houseman, that your worships will be quite justified in taking bail, provided the corpus delicti should not be found. Gentlemen, you were most of you neighbors and friends of the deceased, and are, I am sure, lovers of justice: I do entreat you to aid me in searching that piece of water, by the side of which the deceased gentleman was heard to cry for help; and, much I fear, he cried in vain." The persons thus appealed to entered into the matter with all the ardor of just men, whose curiosity as well as justice is inflamed. A set of old rusty drags was found on the premises: and men went punting up and down the mere, and dragged it. Rude hooks were made by the village blacksmith, and fitted to cart-ropes; another boat was brought to Hernshaw in a wagon, and all that afternoon the bottom of the mere was raked; and some curious things fished up. But no dead man. The next clay a score of amateur drags-men were out: some throwing their drags from the bridge; some circulating in boats, and even in large tubs. And, meantime, Mr. Atkins and his crew went steadily up and down, dragging every foot of those placid waters. They worked till dinner time, and brought up a good copper pot with two handles, a horse's head, and several decayed trunks of trees, which had become saturated, and sunk to the bottom.