I was desirous of escaping, as soon as possible, from this tainted atmosphere, and reflected whether any thing remained to be done respecting Wallace.
It now occurred to me that this youth must have left some clothes and papers, and, perhaps, books.

The property of these was now vested in the Hadwins.

I might deem myself, without presumption, their representative or agent.

Might I not take some measures for obtaining possession, or at least for the security, of these articles?
The house and its furniture were tenantless and unprotected.

It was liable to be ransacked and pillaged by those desperate ruffians of whom many were said to be hunting for spoil even at a time like this.