49379 The old gentleman could not be decoyed outside of his grounds at night.
49380 Several times Stapleton lurked about with his hound, but without avail.
49381 It was during these fruitless quests that he, or rather his ally, was seen by peasants, and that the legend of the demon dog received a new confirmation.
49382 He had hoped that his wife might lure Sir Charles to his ruin, but here she proved unexpectedly independent.
49383 She would not endeavour to entangle the old gentleman in a sentimental attachment which might deliver him over to his enemy.
49384 Threats and even, I am sorry to say, blows failed to move her.
49385 She would have nothing to do with it, and for a time Stapleton was at a deadlock.
49386 'He found a way out of his difficulties through the chance that Sir Charles, who had conceived a friendship with him, made him the minister of his charity in the case of this unfortunate woman, Mrs Laura Lyons.
49387 By representing himself as a single man, he acquired complete influence over her, and he gave her to understand that in the event of her obtaining a divorce from her husband he would marry her.
49388 His plans were suddenly brought to a head by his knowledge that Sir Charles was about to leave the Hall on the advice of Dr Mortimer, with whose opinion he himself pretended to coincide.
49389 He must act at once, or his victim might get beyond his power.
49390 He therefore put pressure upon Mrs Lyons to write this letter, imploring the old man to give her an interview on the evening before his departure for London.
49391 He then, by a specious argument, prevented her from going, and so had the chance for which he had waited.