Country people—visitors?

[Mher]

Dear friends

I need you to induce clarity into this matter. Please, look at the underlined part and tell me whether the first dash implies that the country people and visitors are the same persons? https://poestories.com/read/systemoftarr

"No doubt of it. The keepers and kept were soon made to exchange places. Not that exactly either — for the madmen had been free, but the keepers were shut up in cells forthwith, and treated, I am sorry to say, in a very cavalier manner."
"But I presume a counter revolution was soon effected. This condition of things could not have long existed. The country people in the neighborhood — visitors coming to see the establishment — would have given the alarm."

 

[Raymott]

Yes, as you've written it, I can't see that it could mean anything else.

Though I note that the copy you've linked to reads, "The country people in the neighborhood-visitors coming to see the establishment -- would have given the alarm." This is probably a typo on their part.

 

[Tdol]

This will be the first read I am on to check here

What does that mean or hope to mean?