Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

314 doubt (if I had previously entertained any) re- ing eyes mained in my mind as to the particular grave which was thus being violated. I crept onward— and in a few moments stopped short beneath that tree which overhung the angles of the pauper ground and the criminal compartment. The hedge did not reach higher than my breast ; aud therefore, when standing upright, I could easily look completely over it. Two men- were at work in the grave, as I could tell by the way in which the earth was thrown up: and there was a third standing motionless at a little distance. This last-mentioned individual appeared to be enveloped in a long muffling cloak, so far as I could at first distinguish through the deep obseurity which pre- vailed. Scarcely had I thus satisfied myself that there were only three persons present at the work of desecration—and just as I was about to spring through the hedge at all risks, with my pistols in my hand—the two men in the grave said some- thing to each other; and one of them leapt out. I paused to observe what was now to be done: when the individual who had thus emerged from the pit, suddenly opened a lantern, which sent its light completely down into the grave. The cloaked individual stepped forward and bent over the grave, as if to ascertain how far the work had progressed. Again was I on the very point of darting forward—when a sudden movement of the man who held the lantern threw the light upon the countenance of that cloaked person. Good heavens ! was it possible P—the Earl of He- cleston ! How it was that no ejaculation burst from my lips—that no start convulsed my frame, I cannot conjecture ; unless it were thaf I was suddenly petrified, paralysed in every limb—struck motion- less as a statue—transfixed to the spot in utter astoundment. The lantern was darkened again : I appeared to be awakened from a. dream of stu- pendous horror. But any doubt that began to hover in my mind, was quickly dispelled: for the cloaked individual said something in Italian, in a quick impatient tone, to the two men. It was the voice of the Earl of Eccleston! | I was bewildered how to act: Jhorror sealed up all the purposes of my soul. That this was no ordinary case of body-snatching by mercenary hands for the anatomist’s uses, was now plainly evident. Then what could it mean? of what tre- mendous drama was I a witness? A suspicion flashed in unto my mind—a suspicion so wild and startling that 1 thought I must at once renounce it as impossible: but the next instant it came back with greater strength—it established itself with form, shape, and consistency in my mind :—I had the deeply-seated presentiment that it would be realized! Half-appalled—yet at the same time burning with the intensest curiosity—with an in- terest so strangely thrilling that I can scarce de- scribe it—and yet remaining motionless the while —I continued to watch those proceedings which I no longer thought of immediately interrupting. The man who had issued forth from the grave, took some implements from a basket which lay upon the ground; and these he handed to his companion who remained in the pit. Then I heard the sounds of the coffin-lid being wrenched off; and, Oh! what a thrill of horror swept through me. But still L continued motionless, gazing with my strain- JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. over the hedge,—the deep black shade which was flung by the tree, completely concealing me from those on the opposite side of that hedge, But my brain was growing dizzy; and I have never since had avery clear recollection of how the tenant of the coffin was drawn up. From the in- stant that my ear caught those wrenching sounds, until that when I beheld an ominous white object lying on the soil heaped up by the side of the grave, there is a misty interval, as if during that period a dimness had come over my vision and I had seen nothing distinctly. But all of a sudden I regained the vivid keenness of my faculties; and there I beheld the form of Lanover, in its winding- sheet, by the side of that grave! I did not ery out—I did not move a limb, even so much asa hair’s breadth: a tremendous consternation rested upon my soul: I was appalled—petrified with an awful horror. The Harl of Eccleston, who was now pacing im- patiently to and fro, said something in a quick tone to one of the men: and the lantern was in- stantaneously opened again. First its licht was shed upon the features of the Harl himself, as he bent down over Lanover; and I could perceive that the nobleman’s countenance wore a ghastly and horrified expression, mingled with intensest anxiety and suspense. Again he ejaculated some- thing in an impatient voice, at the same time look- ing around as if with his straining eyes he strove to penetrate the circumjacent obscurity. Then an ejaculation of satisfaction burst from his lips; and the next moment a fourth person, emerging from the darkness, appeared upon the scene. The Earl petulantly asked him what had made him so long ?--and the new-comer curtly replied that he had missed his way. ‘They spoke in Ita- lian: but I understood just enough to catch the meaning of the rapidly-put question and its answer. I saw by the light of the lantern that the new- comer was a young man, not above five or six-and- twenty years of age, and well-dressed. He in- stantaneously set himself to do the work for which he had came thither: he produced a sort of un- folding pocket-book, in which numerous bright objects glittered in the rays of the lantern: it was a case of surgical instruments—and this man was evidently a surgeon. The grave-clothes were stripped off the form of the humpback : his countenance was now revealed to me. It was of death-like whiteness—but serene as if he were only sleeping: all the hideous and harsh lines which that countenance possessed when animated, were now softened and subdued by the repose that was upon it. I saw the surgeon apply a lancet to Lanover’s arm—then take a bottle from his pocket and pour some of its contents down the humpback’s throat, for which purpose the mouth was forced violentiy open. A fellow. creature was being resuscitated :—could I at that instant rush forward to interfere with the work that was in progress? No, impossible !—and even if I had possessed the inclination, I had not the power; for I was still held in statue-like immova- bility by the awful interest which attached itself unto this strange and fearful scene! I beheld the blood slowly trickling down Lano- ver’s arm; and in a few minutes he gave visible signs of life. Oh! then I recollected the circum- stance of Lord Eccleston having made a purchase OOO) “<S CO