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the Doctor impatiently. "And have ye got authoughreety of Sir Moorray to force it open?" said Alexander. "My good man, this is no time for authority. Make haste, and break open the door." "I'm no cheecan, gentlemen," said Alexander, with the most aggravating coolness; "but I've got a verra good seetuation here, and I should be sore fashed if I had to luse it throw being rash. Sir Moorray might be verra angered with me for breaking the door." "My good man, I'd take all responsibility," exclaimed the Rector. "Pray, be quick!" "Weel, then, eef that's the case, gentlemen," said Alexander, refreshing his high-bridged nose with a pinch of snuff--"eef that's the case, I'll just go and fetch my tools." Alexander McCray nodded his head sagely, as he took his departure; and again there was an anxious lapse of time, certainly only of some minutes, but they seemed then to be hours, and, hurrying into the drawing-room, and seizing a poker, the Doctor was himself about to attack the door, when, chisel and mallet in hand, the gardener returned, his rush tool-basket over his shoulder; and then, strenuously exerting himself, he soon made an entrance, first for a chisel and then for a crowbar, with which he strained and strained hard to force open the strongly-made old oak carved door. For a long while the efforts were vain; but at last, with a loud crash, the door gave way, and so suddenly that the gardener fell back with great violence amongst the lookers-on, when, with an unanimous shriek of dismay, the women-servants turned and fled, to gaze from distant doorways for some scrap of interest connected with the elucidation. But before Sandy McCray had gathered himself together, the Rector, followed by Dr Challen and Jane, had entered the room, when Mr Elstree's first act was to catch Jane by the arm and press her back, as with his other hand he drew to the door. "My good woman, you will be better away," he said, earnestly. "I'm not afraid, sir," said Jane, quietly; "and perhaps I may be of some use." "Keep that door closed, then," exclaimed the Doctor; and the next moment he was kneeling upon the carpet, where, motionless, stretched upon his face, and with his fingers tightly clutching the long nap of the Turkey carpet, lay the tall, proud form of Sir Murray Gernon. "No, not that--not that, thank Heaven!" exclaimed the Doctor, after a brief examination, as, looking up, he answered the Rector's inquiring gaz
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