'Soh!' thought Mr. Glossin, 'here is one finger in at least, and
that I will make the means of introducing my whole hand. But I
must first get clear of this wretched young fellow. I think I can
manage Sir Robert. He is dull and pompous, and will be alike
disposed to listen to my suggestions upon the law of the case and
to assume the credit of acting upon them as his own proper motion.
So I shall have the advantage of being the real magistrate,
without the odium of responsibility.'

As he cherished these hopes and expectations, the carriage
approached Hazlewood House through a noble avenue of old oaks,
which shrouded the ancient abbey-resembling building so called. It
was a large edifice, built at different periods, part having
actually been a priory, upon the suppression of which, in the time
of Queen Mary, the first of the family had obtained a gift of the
house and surrounding lands from the crown. It was pleasantly
situated in a large deer-park, on the banks of the river we have
before mentioned. The scenery around was of a dark, solemn, and
somewhat melancholy cast, according well with the architecture of
the house. Everything appeared to be kept in the highest possible
order, and announced the opulence and rank of the proprietor.

As Mr. Glossin's carriage stopped at the door of the hall, Sir
Robert reconnoitred the new vehicle from the windows. According to
his aristocratic feelings, there was a degree of presumption in
this novus homo, this Mr. Gilbert Glossin, late writer in---,
presuming to set up such an accommodation at all; but his wrath
was mitigated when he observed that the mantle upon the panels
only bore a plain cipher of G.G. This apparent modesty was indeed
solely owing to the delay of Mr. Gumming of the Lyon Office, who,