The Escape of the Notorious Sir William Heans by William Gosse Hay

(1) A CARRIAGE DRIVE

There was no end to Mr. Daunt's understanding--his experience of what was wisest. Early on Thursday morning, a messenger arrived at Pitt's Villa, with a note, hoping that Mrs. Shaxton would accompany the commandant to the Cascades Prison, and that she would be pleased to expect the fly at thirty past two. The letter contained something more. There had, it seems, been some arrangement, but it is still a matter of doubt for which of the many reasons Mr. Daunt repeated the request, and for which it was accepted by Mrs. Shaxton. Of course the sending of the message intimated, in a stern and courteous way, that the Commandant was ready to keep to himself the "accident" to Captain Shaxton. It might have been meant only to convey that point. As well it wrote in polite cold English that it would be a sensible move. Did the matter leak out through "Oughtryn's household," and the abrasions on Shaxton's face, the preparations for Sir John and Lady Franklin's entertainment would be jeopardised--irremediably, it was likely--and an unhappy meeting take a formidable importance. Did, however, Mrs. Shaxton keep to the arrangement to drive down with Mr. Daunt (the "patient, he was told, had been less nervous and distressed"), it would render any rumour of it burlesque and out of court.