Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/269

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PAUL CLIFFORD.
239

"Dear, how shocking! by whom?"

"Ay, that's the question! The Coroner's inquest has (what a blessing it is to live in a civilized country, where a man does not die without knowing the why and the wherefore,) sat on the body, and declared (it is very strange, but they don't seem to have made much discovery; for why? we knew as much before,) that the body was found (it was found on the floor, Lucy,) murdered; murderer or murderers (in the bureau, which was broken open, they found the money left quite untouched,)—unknown!"

Here there was again a slight pause, and passing to another side of the paper, Mr. Brandon resumed in a quicker tone,—

"Ha! well, now this is odd! but he's a deuced clever fellow, Lucy! (that brother of mine has, and in a very honourable manner too, which I am sure is highly creditable to the family, though he has not taken too much notice of me lately;—a circumstance which, considering I am his elder brother, I am a little angry at;)—distinguished himself in a speech, remarkable, the paper says—for its great legal—(I wonder, by the by, whether