The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 356: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

(haart ge tease yc re nena ret ancient TOE MYSTELIES OF THE COURT. oo iy ES ma ae eee - es at Oo ) .2 ewe ee OP Oe a a | objects. Thp noxtminute brought them wp to the 4 ropajr with all possible speed to Gainsborough—or spot—whore, to the unspeakable horror and dismny of Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril, and toéhe astunish- ment of Chillin, they beheld the forms of two femalos stretched upon the ground. . “The same we saw @t the cottage!” ejaculated Mr. Gunthorpe, as @oon as he could recover the power of speech—while Deveril, stooping down, pronounced Jife to be extinct in both. , The countenance éf the unfogtunate Emily Archer was dreadfully disfigured, the pistol-bullot having evidently penetrated her forehead, shattering all the upper part of her head. Tho soubrette had beon killed by a ball penetrating her heart—for that side of her dressy was saturated with blood. It was a satl-—a ghastly a shocRing spectacle: and both Mr. Gunthorpe and our hero shuddered from head tu foot, asif stricken with an i8e-chill, “Well, I’m blowed,” said Chiffin the Cannibal, clse to the nearest county mayistrata—that infor- mation may bo given.” “And you will remain here?” asked Deveril. “Yes—cortainly,” rejoined Mr.Gunthorpe. “ We must take caro that the bodies af these untortunate women are not touched until the authorities have seen them.” “But if the murderers should return, you might not be safe? Suffer mo to wait here and keep watch, while you repair to the cottage.” “No euch thing, William! Do as I bid you. Begone at once!”—and Mr. Guntnorpe spoke in a very peremptory manner. * Deveril accordingly offered no farther remon- strance—but hastened back to the cottage, which was about a milo distant, The inmates were just shutting up. tho place in preparation for retiring to rest: bub they were not as yot in bed. Deveril “if it isn’t a deuced lucky thing for mo that I wes‘ knorked loudly and impatiently with bis clenched with you gentlemef: at the time: or else you Would hand at. the door; and when it was opened, his have been sure to gay it wa$ me as did it. {pale oountenangs and horrified looks at once “What, in the name of heavep, te to bd done FP’ showed thet something dreadful had occurred. exclaimed Deveril, addressing himself to Mr, Gun- | His tale was quickly told; and it naturally pro- thorpe, but gldhcing towards Chiflin: then in thé] duced consternation and dismay on the part of OS LS a — ae It:lian language he said, quickly and whieperingly, “Tl this man is seen with us, we shall be accused of the deed!” ° « “True,” replied Mr. Gunthorpe, now recovering his presence of mind, but still trembling from head to foot with feelings of indescribable horror: then quantity of notes and gold, and giving them to Chiflin, said, “Begqne! Stay not here for another maoment--or no power on carth could mako, the authorities of justice belleve that you arc innocent of this!” a | * Right enough !” ejaculated the Cannibal, clutch- ing the money with avidity. “ But whad about the business yonder ?”-—and he jerked his tamb over his shoulder towards he castic. “Ts it possible that you think of staying in this neighbourhood 2” demanded Mr. Gunthorpe. “ No--I should rather thipk not,” was the Can- aibnl’s quick response. “Then away with you!” cried both Mr. Gun- thorpe and William Deveril in a breath. Chiflin sped off across the ficlds, away froin the Viciiugo of the river, and was speedily lost to the view. _ 2 Tho colloquy just recorded had searcely occupied a minuto—during ehich Deveril looked about in every direction to see if he could discover tho slight- est trace of the path which the murderer or mur- dercrs had pursued: but there wag no jndivation to lend him to any such discoveryj Indeed, it was evident enough that tho flight offfthe author or authors of tho terrible deed must ingly precipitate: for at the mongont when Gun- thorpe, Deveril, and Chiflin had Jrst come up to the spot, no sound of rettcating footsteps bad met their eare—no form vanishing in the distanco had caught thoir glance. One civeumstance Devoril now observod—which was, that the parcel tho sou- brette carriod in her hand when at the cuttage, had disap penred. “ Now what is to bo done, sir P” asked Deveril, so soon ds the Cannibal had taken his departure. “Hasten you to the hut, and bid.tho peasant te old woman, her son, and daughter. The san himself, gs soon as he hal revained h‘s self: possession, at once declared his readiness to hasten to Gainsborough with whftsvever message Deveril though¢ it righ6 to send; and our hero accord. ingly bade him use all pussible despatch and in- thrusting his hand into his® pocket, he drew forth a | form fhe local: constabulary of what had occurred. The peasan® set Of on his errand; and Willian Devertl bastefod to rejoin Mr. Gunthorpe, whom he found pacing to and fro on the baak of the river clo% by the spot where the murdered women lay stretched. Two hours clapsed, during which Mr. Gunthorpao and our hero remained upon the scene of tha : awful crime thet had been perpetrated. But little . was the conversation that passed between them: their feelings were too highly wrought—too full of horror anid consternation—to enable them to enter upon deliberato discourse. As for any con- jecture relative to tho author or authors of tho crime, they could offer none, It was “indeed shrouded in the darkest, deepest mystery: for uc- cording to the appearance pfesented by the belies of tho murderat women, it was evident their persons had not been rifled. To add to the uéter discomfort of the positi.a af the gentlemen, the sky grew overcast and tho rain began to fall—at first only drizzling, but in a little while descending more sharply~-until at length if‘poured down in torrents. They had noum- brellas: but. fhoy stood up under the thick canopy of a neighbouring tree, and thus avoided being complotely drenched by the rain. a, At thg expiration of the two hours they heard persona advancing along the bank of the river from tho direction of Gainsborough; and half a dosen individuals soon made their appearance. These conefsted of a magistrate, a surgeon, and sonie constables, accompanied alss by the peasant. In a few words Mr. Gunthorpo explained to the ‘ magistrate the circumstances under which himself and Deveril had discovered the murder. The lanterns which the constables had with thom, were lighted,—the position in which the bodies lay was @ = ee, = SS Se EE Se ge os - — P= == COMIC OOS Lo) SS (CO)