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carriage； and every now and then he turned it upon me； to see that
I was doing well。 There was a folding…window to the carriage…
head； but I never closed it； for it seemed like shutting out hope。
We came to the end of the stage； and still the lost trace was not
recovered。 I looked at him anxiously when we stopped to change；
but I knew by his yet graver face； as he stood watching the ostlers；
that he had heard nothing。 Almost in an instant afterwards； as I
leaned back in my seat； he looked in； with his lighted lantern in his
hand； an excited and quite different man。
“What is it？” said I； starting。 “Is she here？”
“No； no。 Don’t deceive yourself； my dear。 Nobody’s here。 But
I’ve got it！”
The crystallised snow was in his eyelashes； in his hair； lying in
ridges on his dress。 He had to shake it from his face； and get his
breath； before he spoke to me。
“Now； Miss Summerson；” said he； beating his finger on the
apron； “don’t you be disappointed at what I’m a…going to do。 You
know me。 I’m Inspector Bucket； and you can trust me。 We’ve come
a long way； never mind。 Four horses out there for the next stage
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up！ Quick！”
There was a commotion in the yard； and a man came running
out of the stables to know “if he meant up or down？”
“Up； I tell you！ Up！ Ain’t it English？ Up！”
“Up？” said I； astonished。 “To London！ Are we going back？”
“Miss Summerson；” he answered； “back。 Straight back as a die。
You know me。 Don’t be afraid。 I’ll follow the other； by G—。”
“The other？” I repeated。 “Who？”
“You called her Jenny； didn’t you？ I’ll follow her。 Bring those
two pair out here； for a crown a man。 Wake up； some of you！”
“You will not desert this lady we are in search of； you will not
abandon her on such a night； and in such a state of mind as I know
her to be in！” said I； in an agony； and grasping his hand。
“You are right； my dear； I won’t。 But I’ll follow the other。 Look
alive here with them horses。 Send a man fo’rard in the saddle to
the next stage； and let him send another for’ard again； and order
four on； up； right through。 My darling； don’t you be afraid！”
These orders； and the way in which he ran about the yard；
urging them； caused a general excitement that was scarcely less
bewildering to me than the sudden change。 But； in the height of
the confusion； a mounted man galloped away to order the relays；
and our horses were put to with great speed。
“My dear；” said Mr Bucket； jumping to his seat； and looking in
again—“you’ll excuse me if I’m too familiar—don’t you fret and
worry yourself no more than you can help。 I say nothing else at
present； but you know me； my dear； now； don’t you？”
I endeavoured to say that I knew he was far more capable than
I of deciding what we ought to do； but was he sure that this was
right？ Could I not go forward by myself in search of—I grasped his
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hand again in my distress； and whispered it to him—of my own
mother。
“My dear；” he answered； “I know； I know； and would I put you
wrong； do you think？ Inspector Bucket。 Now you know me； don’t
you？”
What could I say but yes！
“Then you keep up as good a heart as you can； and you rely
upon me for standing by you； no less than by Sir Leicester
Dedlock； Baronet。 Now； are you right there？”
“All right； sir！”
“Off she goes； then。 And get on； my lads！”
We were again upon the melancholy road by which we had
come； tearing up the miry sleet and thawing snow； as if they were
torn up by a water…wheel。
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Chapter 58
A Wintry Day And Night
till impassive； as behoves its breeding； the Dedlock town
house carries itself as usual towards the street of dismal
S
grandeur。 There are powdered heads from time to time in
the little windows of the hall； looking out at the untaxed powder
falling all day from the sky； and； in the same conservatory； there is
peach blossom turning itself exotically to the great hall fire from
the nipping weather out of doors。 It is given out that my Lady has
gone down into Lincolnshire； but is expected to return presently。
Rumour； busy overmuch； however； will not go down into
Lincolnshire。 It persists in flitting and chattering about town。 It
knows that that poor unfortunate man； Sir Leicester； has been
sadly used。 It hears； my dear child； all sorts of shocking things。 It
makes the world； of five miles round； quite merry。 Not to know
that there is something wrong at the Dedlocks’ is to augur yourself
unknown。 One of the peachy…cheeked charmers with the skeleton
throats； is already apprised of all the principal circumstances that
will come out before the Lords； on Sir Leicester’s application for a
bill of divorce。
At Blaze and Sparkle’s the jewellers； and at Sheen and Gloss’s
the mercers； it is and will be for several hours the topic of the age；
the feature of the century。 The patronesses of those
establishments； albeit so loftily inscrutable； being as nicely
weighed and measured there as any other article of the stock…in…
trade； are perfectly understood in this new fashion by the rawest
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hand behind the counter。 “Our people； Mr Jones；” said Blaze and
Sparkle to the hand in question on engaging him； “our people； sir；
are sheep—mere sheep。 Where two or three marked ones go； all
the rest follow。 Keep those two or three in your eye； Mr Jones； and
you have the flock。” So； likewise； Sheen and Gloss to their Jones；
in reference to knowing where to have the fashionable people； and
how to bring what they （Sheen and Gloss） choose； into fashion。 On
similar unerring principles； Mr Sladdery the librarian； and indeed
the great farmer of gorgeous sheep； admits this very day； “Why
yes； sir； there certainly are reports concerning Lady Dedlock； very
current indeed among my high connection； sir。 You see； my high
connection must talk about something； sir； and it’s only to get a
subject into vogue with one or two ladies I could name； to make it
go down with the whole。 Just what I should have done with those
ladies； sir； in the case of any novelty you had left to me to bring in；
they have done of themselves in this case through knowing Lady
Dedlock； and being perhaps a little innocently jealous of her too；
sir。 You’ll find； sir； that this topic will be very popular among my
high connection。 If it had been a speculation； sir； it would have
brought money。 And when I s