The Poacher; Or, Joseph RushbrookMarryat, Frederick
General
The Poacher; Or, Joseph Rushbrook
Marryat, Frederick
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Fathers and sons -- Fiction; Murder -- Fiction; Poachers -- Fiction
"No I did not," replied Mr Trevor.
"Well, I have seen her very often," rejoined McShane; "and a very nice
creature she appears to be. I have never been in their house in my
life. I called and left my card, that's all; but I have met her several
times; however, as you have not seen her, that proves nothing; and now,
Mr Trevor, what do you think we should do?"
"I really am not prepared to advise; it is a case of great difficulty; I
think, however, it would be advisable for you to call upon young
Rushbrook, and see what you can obtain from him; after that, if you come
here to-morrow morning, I will be better prepared to give you an
answer."
"I will do as you wish, sir; I will call upon my friend first, and my
name's not McShane if I don't call upon his father afterwards."
"Do nothing rashly, I beg," replied Mr Trevor; "recollect you have come
to me for advice, and I think you are bound at least to hear what I have
to propose before you act."
"That's the truth, Mr Trevor; so now with many thanks, we will take our
leave, and call upon you to-morrow."
McShane and O'Donahue then proceeded to the gaol, and demanded
permission to see our hero.
"There are two ladies with him, just now," said the gaoler; "they have
been there these three hours, so I suppose they will not be much
longer."
"We will wait, then," replied O'Donahue.
In about a quarter of an hour Mrs Austin and Mary made their
appearance; the former was closely veiled when she entered the gaoler's
parlour, in which O'Donahue and McShane were waiting. It had not been
the intention of Mrs Austin to have gone into the parlour, but her
agitation and distress had so overcome her that she could scarcely walk,
and Mary had persuaded her as she came down to go in and take glass of
water. The gentlemen rose when she came in; she immediately recognised
McShane, and the sudden rush into her memory of what might be the issue
of the meeting, was so overwhelming, that she dropped into a chair and
fainted.
Mary ran for some water, and while she did so, McShane and O'Donahue
went to the assistance of Mrs Austin. The veil was removed; and, of
course, she was immediately recognised by McShane, who was now fully
convinced that Austin and Rushbrook were one and the same person.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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