The Widow Barnaby. Vol. 2 (of 3)Trollope, Frances Milton
General
The Widow Barnaby. Vol. 2 (of 3)
Trollope, Frances Milton
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Social classes -- England -- Fiction; Widows -- Fiction
They were too judicious, however, to mention their satisfaction, and the
sorrows of the widow received from all the party a very suitable measure
of condolence. Mr. Peters indeed did much more than condole with her,
for he cordially offered his assistance; and it was soon settled, by his
advice, that Mrs. Barnaby should immediately accompany him to the mayor,
and afterwards proceed according to the instructions of a lawyer to whom
he immediately dispatched a note, requesting that he would meet them
forthwith before the magistrate. The carriage was then ordered: Agnes,
by the advice of all parties, was left at Rodney Place; and Mrs.
Barnaby, somewhat comforted, but still in great tribulation, set off in
her dear sister's _coach_ (her best consolation) to testify before the
mayor of Bristol, not only that she had been robbed, but that there
certainly was some reason to suppose her maid Jerningham the thief.
Mr. Peters found his lawyer ready to receive them, who, after hearing
the lady's statement, obtained a warrant for the apprehension of
Elizabeth Jacks and of William ---- (surname unknown), groom or valet,
or both, to Major Allen, lodging at Gloucester Row, Clifton. The widow
had very considerable scruples concerning the implication of this latter
individual; but having allowed that she thought he must be the
"gentleman's servant" spoken of by Mrs. Crocker's maid as having
accompanied Jerningham when she left the house, she was assured that it
would be necessary to include him; and she finally consented, on its
being made manifest to her that, if he proved innocent, there would be
no difficulty whatever in obtaining his release. Mrs. Barnaby was then
requested accurately to describe the persons of her maid and her
supposed companion, which she did very distinctly, and with the less
difficulty, because the persons of both were remarkable.
"There wasn't another man likely to be in her company, was there,
ma'am?" said a constable who was in attendance in the office.
"No," replied Mrs. Barnaby confidently, "I don't know any one at all
likely to be with her. I am almost sure that she had not any other
acquaintance."
"But the man might," observed another official.
"That's true," rejoined the first, "and therefore I strongly suspect
that I saw the girl and the man too enter a house on the quay just fit
for such sort of company; ... but there was another fellow along with
them."
"Then we will charge you with the warrant, Miles," said the magistrate.
"If you can succeed in taking them into custody at once, it is highly
probable that you may be able to recover the property."
This hint rendered the widow extremely urgent that no time should be
lost; and in case the constable should succeed in finding them at the
place he had named, she consented to remain in a room attached to the
office, that no time might be lost in identifying the parties.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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