Part 57 (1/2)

LONDON:

SPOTTISWOODES and SHAW, New-street-Square.

THE VILLAGE NOTARY.

VOL. III.

THE VILLAGE NOTARY.

CHAPTER I.

If my readers had ever seen the inmates of the Castle of Tissaret, they would not be astonished to find that, after the first shock of the sudden death of Mr. Catspaw had worn off, the matter was thought of, and commented on, with utter indifference. The order and quiet of the Castle was quite restored, and the servants sat talking of the murder round a blazing fire in the kitchen. But although some of them were in the attorney's room almost immediately after the deed was perpetrated, n.o.body knew any thing about it. Everybody's statement differed. They sat talking until daybreak, and yet they were no wiser than when they began.

They rose and separated with opinions as various as those entertained of Hannibal's pa.s.sage across the Alps.

The greatest incoherence, however, was in the dying man's own statement.

When they asked him who had done the deed, he distinctly mentioned the name of Tengelyi. But Mrs. Cizmeasz, who was an honest and truth-speaking woman, insisted on its being a request to see the notary, and protested that it had nothing to do with the murder.

Mr. Tengelyi had hastened to the Castle on the night of the murder, and on hearing that the dying man's last word was his name, he grew pale and agitated. This did not fail to produce its effects upon the observers.

As soon as he had caused the door of the room, in which the corpse of the attorney lay, to be sealed up, he left the Castle.

Mr. Skinner did not arrive before the next morning, though he had been repeatedly sent for during the night.

When his carriage at length drove up to the door, the cook ran out exclaiming, ”Our attorney is murdered, sir!”

”Poor man!” said Mrs. Cizmeasz; ”his last words were----”

”But we have found the murderer,” said the cook with great joy.

”_I_ found him!” cried the haiduk.

”Yes, in the chimney!” bawled the kitchen-maid.

”He got off!” cried Mrs. Cizmeasz, in a shrill voice.

”Yes, yes, we have him! It's the Jew--the glazier, sir; you know him,”

said the cook, who wished to be an important personage in the affair.

”He has made his escape,” said the coachman, coming forward; ”we followed him to the Theiss, when----”

”He is in the cellar,” bawled the foot-boy; ”I have bound him hand and foot!”

”Yes, sir,” resumed the coachman, ”we ran at his heels until we came to the thicket----”

”The door is duly sealed, sir, and I have the Jew under lock and key,”