"
"Do not you believe me? I say she is dead!"
"Have a care, woman! this is no matter for jesting. No: though she used
me ill, I would not believe her dead for all the world!"
Mrs. Hammond shook her head in a manner expressive at once of grief and
indignation.
"No, no, no, no! I will never believe that!--No, never!"
"Will you come with me, and convince your eyes? It is a sight worthy of
you; and will be a feast to such a heart as yours!"--Saying this, Mrs.
Hammond offered her hand, as if to conduct him to the spot.
Mr. Tyrrel shrunk back.
"If she be dead, what is that to me? Am I to answer for every thing that
goes wrong in the world?--What do you come here for? Why bring your
messages to me?"
"To whom should I bring them but to her kinsman,--and her murderer."
"Murderer?--Did I employ knives or pistols? Did I give her poison? I did
nothing but what the law allows. If she be dead, nobody can say that I
am to blame!"
"To blame?--All the world will abhor and curse you. Were you such a
fool as to think, because men pay respect to wealth and rank, this would
extend to such a deed? They will laugh at so barefaced a cheat.
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