Chapter the Last

Farewell to England

Scarcely had Slapperton subsided in some degree from the excitement into which it had

been thrown by the trial and suicide of Raymond de Morole when it was again a stir with

news, which was, if anything, more exciting.

It is needless to say that after the trial and condemnation of De Morole there was not

a little regretful sympathy felt by the good citizens of Slapperton for their unfortunate

townsmen, Richard Marwood, who, after having been found guilty of a murder he had never committed,

had perished as the story went in a futile attempt to escape from the asylum in which he had

been confined.

What then were the feelings of Slapperton when, about a month after the suicide of the

murderer of Monty Harding, a paragraph appeared in one of the local papers, which stated positively

that Mr. Richard Marwood was still alive, he having succeeded in escaping from the county

asylum.

This was enough.

Here was a hero of romance indeed, here was Innocence triumphant for once in real life,

as on the mimics scene, Slapperton was wild with one universal desire to embrace so

distinguished as citizen.

The local papers of the following week were full of the subject, and Richard Marwood was

earnestly solicited to appear once more in his native town, that every inhabitant there

of, from the highest to the lowest, might be enabled to testify heartfelt sympathy for

his undeserved misfortunes and sincere delight in his happy restoration to name and fame.

...