The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 361: what you’re looking at

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papers. 350 only say that I am innocent of this foul deed which THE MYSTERIES. stantial evidence that weighed so tremendously is imputed to me. That a tremendous masse of | against him. circumstantial evidence has accumulated against me, I readily admit: but there is a hey to the read- ing of this terrible mystery—a clue to the unravelling of this skein of incidents, at present so tangled and so complicated, That is however my secret for the present: useless and unavailing were tb to enter upon any explanations at this moment or tn this place. No—for a more solemn occasion and a higher tribunal shall be reserved a narrative the details of whick will cause every heart to thrill with horror throughout the land, and turn into sympathy and commiseration the loathing and abhorrence which in the meantime may attach themselves unto me.” It will be readily understood that Arthur Eaton alluded, in this address, to the bitter per- secution which he had experienced at the hands of Fernanda, and every detail of which he pur- posed to reveal in self-defence at the proper time. But in those days of which we are writing, the newspapers were of diminutive size, and their reports of cases were necessarily limited and brief. It therefore happened that the whole of Arthur Eaton’s address to the magistrate was omitted; and not the slightest reference was made to his declaration that Me possessed a key to the reading of the mystery and would give startling explana- tions when put upon his trial. But the reporters did insert the concluding incident of the proceed. ings at the police-court: namely, that as Arthur Eaton was being led away, the sssembled spec- tators testified their compassion by sundry re- marks proving that they looked upon him as a monomaniac swayed by an irresistible instinct for blood, If such, then, was the impression made upon the minds of the persons who had attended the proceedings and heard the prisoner's address to the magistrate, it cannot be wondered at if the same opinion should be adopted by those who knew nothing more of the matter than what they gleaned from the imperfect reports in the news- In fact, these reports were precisely of a nature to encourage the belief that Arthar Eaton was a monomaniac, and that he had no explanation in reserve nor any defence to offer when the day of trial should come. Such was the general im- pression upon the public mind: but there were of course a few individuals who thought differently and more profoundly upon the subject. Lord Marchmoat, the prisonor’s father—for instance— could not possibly imagine that his son was guilty of the crime imputed to him; although the shock occasioned by such a tremendous calamity had thrown the old nobleman on a sick bed and brought him to the very verge of the grave. Then again, there was Pauline Clarendon, who entertained too sublime a confidence not only in the rectitude of her cousin, but likewise in the strength of his mind, to believe for a single moment that he had perpetrated the deed either wilfully or under the influence of a dominant mania, Lord and Lady Holderness had likewise, no doubt, strong opinions upon the same subject : but up to the hour when they encountered Caro- line Walters disguised as a midshipman, they had felt convinced that Arthur Eaton must inevitably succumb, on the day of trial, beneath the circum- Nearly two months and a half, we said, had elapsed since the committal of the young gentle- man to Newgate. During that period there was one sitting of the criminal tribunal at the Old Bailey: but it followed so closely upon Arthur's consignment to gaol, that his trial was postponed until the ensuing session. In the meantime he re- covered somewhat from the dreadful shock which he had experienced on finding that he was re- garded as a monomaniac; and during the last two or three weeks of his incarceration, he had long and frequent interviews with his professional ad- viser. Still, however, was he weighed down by a deep sense of misforture, degradation, and grief: his cheeks had become as pale as they were when he appeared to be perishing beneath the influence of the secret poison—and he felt as if all his vital powers were sapped and undermined beyond all earthly means of restoration. In such a condition was he,—physically attenu. ated and morally depressed,—when he was one morning informed by a turnkey that a prisoner who had been committed to Newgate on the pre- vious evening, anxiously and earnestly desired an interview with him. To the questions which Arthur put, the functionary responded that the prisoner alluded to was a certain Oaroline Walters —the young woman charged wita tue murder of Mrs. Lindley, the midwife. With the vividness and celerity of an inspiration did it strike Mr. Eaton that the object of the interview now solicited more or less concerned his own speci4l case :—and yielding at once to the influence of this presenti- ment, he desired the turnkey to bring the young woman to his cell. The regulations of the prison were far from be- ing strict or severe in the times of which we are writing; and the liberal fee that Caroline had placed in the turnkey’s hands was the incentive to those good offices which he was thus exercising in her behalf. Accordingly, having obtained Arthur Eaton’s assent to the demand for an interview, the turnkey hastened to conduct Caroline into the young gentleman’s presence. She was once more habited in the attire which became her sex;—and the moment she entered Eaton’s cell, he was struck with the conviction that the mere girl who now stood before him was not likely to be the murderess of the old midwife. But a second and more scrutinising look which be ‘fixed npon her countenance, enabled him to dis. cover an expression of stern resolution in her linea~ ments; and the thought then arose within him that the strong mind of an experienced woman haply tenanted that form of youthful grace and of winning charms scarcely as yet matured. The turnkey intimated that he should return again in an hour; and, on leaving the cell, he locked and bolted the door. Arthur rose from his seat—placed a chair for Caroline—and then, re- suming his place, anxiously waited for her to ex- plain the purport of her visit. “ Mr. Eaton,” she said, in a low but firm and impressive tone, “we have an identity of interests at this moment; and the discovery which I have made that such is the fact, is the only apology I need offer for obtruding myself upon your notice. Jn a word, you are innocent—and J am innocent ;— i ElOOO® SS