Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ...thing will unhorse him: the very fact of Dobbin's galloping down the hill might do it." "I have never once seen Drew the worse for drink," was Geoffry's reply to this. "Neither have I--don't think I would asperse the man causelessly," returned Sir Dene. "Priar, too, says he was sober. But still there's a lurking doubt on my mind that he was not himself: and I don't say it without a reason." "What is the reason, sir?" naturally questioned Geoffry. Upon that, Sir Dene told the tale--calling it a cock-and-bull story--that had been told to him: of what Drew saw, or thought he saw, at the Trailing Indian. Sir Dene entirely disbelieved it. The surgeon had informed him what Black's version was; and Sir Dene, judging by common sense, believed that to be the true version. Geoffry listened in silence. "Now what I think is this, Geoff: That no man could go the length of fancying he saw what Drew fancied, unless his imagination and eyesight were both a little helped by drink. If it was so, this would account for the accident. Drew confesses he was going down here at a tolerable pace." Sir Dene turned his eyes on the road as he spoke. They were just abreast of the spot. "Did Drew hold to his story afterwards?" asked Geoffry. "In the most positive manner. He says he was never in his life more sure of anything than he is that the coffin came out of the inn. Of course, having fancied he saw it, it became impressed upon his imagination." "For my own part, I should not be disposed to trust to a word asserted by Black," remarked Geoffry. "I'd rather believe Drew." "Nonsense," said Sir Dene....