The Silent Witness Volume 1; A Novel (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 Excerpt: ...hear so good an account of the Loddonford property," said Grace quietly. "It ought to sell for a large sum." "A large sum, indeed," repeated Mr. Palmer; "but you are never thinking of selling it?" "You are surely never thinking of parting with Loddonford, my dear?" said Mr. Bence, to whom the notion gave quite a new train of thought. "I have thoroughly decided upon doing so," said Grace firmly. "I could never have any pleasure in the place, connected as it is with reminiscences of bygone happiness, and with anticipations which were never fulfilled. I had determined on this step long since, and should have carried it out even at a loss; and now, since these glowing accounts which you have given me, I can feel no compunction, if only from a business point of view." "The sale will attract an immense amount of attention," said Mr. Palmer, reflectively. "There has been nothing going down in that part of the country, since Wandlesworth's came under the hammer, when Chivers was smashed. Sir Thomas Buffain is sure to have a try for Loddonford, for those waterbordered meadows are just the grazing grounds for his Devons." Be ce said nothing for some minutes, being lost in a reverie. Suppose he were to go in to purchase this beautiful place, and become a landed proprietor--would not that give him the position in society which he so earnestly longed for, but which he had hitherto failed in obtaining? People in Loddonford knew everything: everybody knew about the stockbroker's office, and many suspected the bone-boiling and cork-cutting establishments, and the ownership of the music-hall and the satirical journal. Now down in the country nothing of this would be known. He would be...