The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 362: what you’re looking at

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A ee, | e . SS One eee a ST eee ® | ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. tT ee immediately after daybreak in tho morning. He had narrowly scarched all about to discover, if pos- sible, any trace which might afford a clue to the unravelling of the mystery. He had searchod for the marks of footsteps farther along tho Bank than where the murder had lwen perpetrated: but the torrents of rain which Yell during the night, had obliterated all traces of footmarks everywhere round about. He had likewise scarched in the adjacent fields for any evidence’ to prove that the parcel had been opened—if brown papor or string, fur instance, had been thrown away: but nothing had transpired to show the track which the murderer or murderers had pursped ‘aftor committing the crime. I6 had likewise made inquiries at some of tho cottages as to whether any suspicious-looking individuals had been seon lurking about the ncighbourhood: but ho could obtain no positive information upon tho subject. » ° : The ‘surgeon gave his evidence last of all. It ee eS ee Ge, oe Eee oe -ee eeeee ~ See, eestor Ee? 349 except a parcel which by its size and description probably contained some dress or articles of olothing. The gentlomen moreover give a prompt alarm, ren- der all possible assistanco, and voluntarily come farward to tender their evidence at this inquest. One of these gentlemen recently saved the life of a female in that very river on the bank of which the present tragedy took place—thus exhibiting a mag- yanimity and genorosity of conduct deserving all our admiration, Gentlemen of the jury, I hope that you will not consider these romarks to bo mis- placed, as it might havo happened to any two of us here to havo becn on that spot and at that hour last night to make the fearful discovery which was made by those two gentlemen.” When the coroner had o@ncluded his address, the ' jury deliberated but for a few minutes, and came to averdict of “ Wilful Murder against some person oF petsons unknown.” | Ths terminated the proceedings of the coroncr’s was lo the effect that Mademoiselle d’Alombert bad : inquest. Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril returned to been shot in tho head—her*sorvant through tho ‘the hotel at which they were staying; and there heart. From certain indications, jt was evident i they deliberated together what course thoy should that tho pistol cr pistols must have been fired close | now pureve. The oid gentleman at first proposed to them, and thht death must have been instan- tancous in both cases. The examination, which lasted three hours, was that being in the neighbourhood, he should pny onc méte visit to Lady Saxondale, in the hope of being able to induce her to do justice to William Deveril, now concluded so far as the depositions of the wit- |in respect to the calumnies she had propagated nesses were concerned; and the coroner summed | against him; for ho though, that he might frighten up to the jury. Ho represented the deed as one ; her into this course by revealing the fuct of the dis- of those mysterious tragedies which occasionally ' covery that she was in correspondence with such a occur, without leaving the “slightest clue to the | person us Mr. Chiffin, But upon mature reflection, diabolical perpetrators. In the present instance it ; Mr. Gunthorye coxcluded that Lady Saxondale wat would appear, judging by all the avidence given, | a woman of suc’: strong effrontery and brazen har- that the author or authors of the crime had been disturbed immediately after its perpetration by the dihood, as not to bo intimidated by such moans-— | and that she would indigndutly deny the circuin- ejaculations of alarm sent forth b7-Mr. Deveril and : stance of, the alleged comiaunication with Mr. Mr. Gunthorpe—and that not having time to rifle | Chiffin. He therefore resolved toreturn to London the victims, the myrderer or murderers had snatched with Deveril, and take time to settle the coursy up the parcel and fled precipitately with.jt. The | which was now to be adopted towards her lady- coronor went very carSfully through all the evi- | ship. dence; and one portion of ‘his summing up was too romarkable, for several reasons, not to be recorded here :— 8 T ean conceive, gzntlomen, ho position more un- ' pleasant for any persons to be placed in, than that of Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. Deveril in the present instance. It is too frequently the caso that thought- less individuals, and those who are in the habit of arriving at rash and hasty conclusions, greedily seize upon the slightest circumstances which seem to be suspicious, and:thus do at once affix the taint of suspicion upon innocent persons. I feel it to be my duty to make these remarks upon the present occasion, inasmuch as the discoverers of 4 crime may not inour tho risk of being identified with the crimi- nals, In tho present caso we have tho gentlemen “ But Florina ?”’ suggested William, when his old friend had thus imparted his decision. “ Will you - wee a i = Te oe A ee ee oe Ene ES - = Bs? == ee ee ee eee eee oe 6 6S ete = Seles =... =e leavo her ine the odious atmosphere of Lady | Saxondalo's iniquity? Oh, my dear sir! if you do indeed possess any influenco in that quarter—v—" “Enough, William!” interrupted Mr. Gdnthorpo. “ I can take no step until I return to London. It must be from thence that I shall write to Lady Macdonald: but I faithfully promise you, William, that within a very few days Florina and her aunt shall cease to be inmates of Saxondale Castle. Will that suffice P” “ It will—it must,” answered Deveril. “T submit to your opinion and judgmont in ell things. But when, sir, do ydu propose to depart?” “We will go across to Lincoln presently, after dinner,” responded Mr. Gunthorpe ; ‘‘and to-morrow ae who; so fdr from being in needy pircumstances, ai bounteously reward a poor peasant rf ily for hospi- | morning we will start by rail for London. Ah! you talities and services previously vouchZafed. Accident brings them for the moment in contact with those persons whom they are destined shortly afterwards to find stretched lifeless upon tho ground. , But it is clear that these gentlemen and those victims wero | previously unacquainted with each other, and that an invitation was given by tho lady to one of theso’ gentlemon to visit her in London—which he how- ever civilly declined. When these gentlemen dis- cover the budic:, nothing is plundered. from them s a eee wens ob O- eee OED Cee aes eee oe Cis rr er ee ess 2 = ‘ rogue, you wish to have an opportunity of seeing Florina for a few minutes ?—but it cannot be on the present occasion, William. I have many things re- quiring my presence in London.” Mr. Gunthorpo had indeed fathomed our hero’s ‘desire: for was it not natural that ho should wish to see his well-beloved Florina, if only fur a few minutes P and would he not cheerfully have walked across to the grounds of Saxondale Castle in that | hope P- But he was compelled to bow to Mr. Gun- 3 (C©) LOAO© SS (CO)