30/32 "John Massingbird dead ?" he mechanically asked. He had the gold about him, a great quantity of it, bringing it down to Melbourne, and he was killed on the road; murdered for the sake of the gold." "How have you heard it ?" demanded Lionel. "He stopped me, saying he had heard from his son by this afternoon's post; that there was bad news in the letter, and he supposed he must go to Verner's Pride, and break it to them. He gave me the letter, and I undertook to carry the tidings to Mrs.Verner." "It is awfully sudden," said Lionel, "By the mail, two months ago, he wrote himself to us, in the highest spirits. |