"What, Brown Bob lamed?" said he, "and Tyrrell--poor--poor fellow, how shocking! we must send instantly. Here, John! Tom! Wilson!" and his lordship shouted and rung the bell in an indescribable agitation. The under butler appeared, and Lord Chester began--"My head groom--Sir John Tyrrell is murdered--violent sprain in off leg--send lights with Mr. Pelham--poor gentleman--an express instantly to Dr. Physicon--Mr. Pelham will tell you all--Brown Bob--his throat cut from ear to ear--what shall be done?" and with this coherent and explanatory harangue, the marquis sunk down in his chair in a sort of hysteria. The under butler looked at him in suspicious bewilderment. "Come," said I, "I will explain what his lordship means:" and, taking the man out of the room, I gave him, in brief, the necessary particulars. I ordered a fresh horse for myself, and four horsemen to accompany me. While these were preparing, the news was rapidly spreading, and I was soon surrounded by the whole house. Many of the men wished to accompany me; and Lord Chester, who had at last recovered from his stupor, insisted upon heading the search. We set off, to the number of fourteen, and soon arrived at Dawson's house: the light in the upper room was still burning. We rang, and after a brief pause, Thornton himself opened the door to us. He looked pale and agitated. "How shocking!" he said directly--"we are only just returned from the spot." "Accompany us, Mr. Thornton," said I, sternly; and fixing my eye upon him-- "Certainly," was his immediate answer, without testifying any confusion-- "I will fetch my hat." He went into the house for a moment. "Do you suspect these people?" whispered Lord Chester. "Not suspect," said I, "but doubt." We proceeded down the avenue: "Where is Mr. Dawson?" said I to Thornton. "Oh, within!" answered Thornton. "Shall I fetch him?" "Do," was my brief reply. Thornton was absent some minutes; when he re-appeared, Dawson was following him. "Poor fellow," said he to me in a low tone--"he was so shocked by the sight, that he is still all in a panic; besides, as you will see, he is half drunk still." I made no answer, but looked narrowly at Dawson; he was evidently, as Thornton said, greatly intoxicated: his eyes swam, and his feet staggered as he approached us; yet, through all the natural effects of drunkenness, he seemed nervous and frightened. This, however, might be the natural, and consequently innocent effect, of the mere sight of an object so full of horror; and, accordingly, I laid little stress upon it. We reached the fatal spot: the body seemed perfectly unmoved. "Why," said I, apart to Thornton, while all the rest were crowding fearfully round the corpse--"why did you not take the body within?" "I was going to return here with our servant for that purpose," answered the gambler; "for poor Dawson was both too drunk and too nervous to give me any assistance."