persuasion
that Thornton would not put his threats into execution, I could not
conquer a latent foreboding of dread and evil.

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

Away with him to prison--where is the provost?--Measure for Measure.

I returned home, perplexed by a thousand contradictory thoughts upon the
scene I had just witnessed; the more I reflected, the more I regretted
the fatality of the circumstances, that had tempted Glanville to accede
to Thornton's demand; true it was, that Thornton's self-regard might be
deemed a sufficient guarantee for his concealment of such extortionate
transactions: moreover, it was difficult to say, when the formidable
array of appearances against Glanville was considered, whether any other
line of conduct than that which he had adopted, could, with any safety,
have been pursued.

His feelings too, with regard to the unfortunate Gertrude, I could
fully enter into, and sympathize with: but, in spite of all these
considerations, it was with an inexpressible aversion that I
contemplated the idea of that tacit confession of guilt, which his
compliance with Thornton's exactions so unhappily implied; it was,
therefore, a thought of some satisfaction, that my rash and hasty
advice, of a still further concession to those extortions, had not
been acceded to. My present intention was, in the event of Glanville's
persevering to reject my offer of accompanying him, to remain in
England, for the purpose of sifting the murder, nor did I despair of
accomplishing this most desirable end, through the means of Dawson; for
there was but little doubt in my own mind that Thornton and himself
were the murderers, and I hoped that address or intimidation might win
a confession from Dawson, although it might probably be unavailing with
his hardened and crafty associate.

Occupied with these thoughts, I endeavoured to while away the hours
till the evening summoned me once more to the principal object of my
reflections. Directly Glanville's door was opened, I saw by one glance,
that I had come too late; the whole house was in confusion; several of
the servants were in the hall, conferring with each other, with that
mingled mystery and agitation which always accompany the fears and
conjectures of the lower classes. I took aside the valet, who had lived
with Glanville for some years, and who was remarkably attached to his
master, and learnt, that somewhat more than an hour before. Mr. Thornton
had returned to the house