The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

Ee Eee THE MYSTERIES. “Thsre ia ane particular stones which mast be raised, I beliove,” aaid the Marehioness, as her eyes wandcred slowly over the pavement,—“ inas- much as it covers tho stops leading down into the vault.” “ This is the stone, my lady,” returned North- witch, pointing with a crowbar to a particular flag. “Then raise it,” said the Marchioness. “ Will the task be alongone? Because, if so, I may as well search in the meantime for a particular entry in the register of deaths.” “We shall not be long moving the stone, my lady,” replied Northwitch: “because it was lifted a short time back, and is therefore comparatively loose in its setting. I mean that the cement is not properly dry yet; and I dare say that Chapman who raised the stone for the Earl's agents, did not trouble himself to put it down again with over- much care. However, here goes!” To work accordingly went the sexton and his assistant; and Lady Bellenden decided upon re- maining to visit the place of tombs first, before she repaired to the vestry to examine the register. In about twenty minutes the enormous stone was raised and rolled back from the mouth of the subterranean which it covered. The sexton and his man then lighted their lanterns; and having allowed a few minutes for the escape of the foul air from the place, they descended the narrow flight of stone steps which led down into the family vault of the ancient race of Bellenden. The Marchioness followed—and the clergyman closed the rear. The subterranean has already been described, in a former chapter, as spacious ;—and round the walls were arranged numerous coffins, in three rows —the lowest standing upon the paved floor, and the other two resting on stout iron supporters projecting Srom the solid masonry. By these means no coffin actually stood upon another ; and between the rows there was space sufficient tq@enabie the plates upon the lids to be examined without moving the coffins themselves The party reached the bottom of the steps and were advancing farther into the vault, when a sud- den ejaculation of horror burst froin the lips of the sexton who was leading the way. ‘What is the matter?” demanded Lady Bellen- den, for the moment stricken hy a superstitious terror. “There—yonder—that coffin!” cried Northwitch, pointing in a particular direction with one hand and holding the lantern high up with the other. “Ah! I see,” efaculated his assistant, drawing back a pace or two with a visible shuddering of his entire form. At the same instant the Marchioness and Mr. Roberts caught sight of the object which had pro- daced such a sensation upon the sexton and his man;—and exclamations of mingled horror and disgust broke from the noble lady and the reverend .gentleman. For, behold! on the uppermost row, at the farthest extremity of the vault, a coffin had ‘ Irst open—and a putrid corpse was exposed to _W. “* How shocking !” exclaimed the Marchioness of Bellenden, a raw, damp, and mouldy smell now offending her nostrils, and a thick clammy taste clinging to her palate. “But whose corpse can it de, that it is comparatively so well preserved ?” “Why, my lady,” cried Northwitch, “that body may hevo heen here twonty, thirty, or aven forty years, and yet be no moro than half-docomposed asitis now. Itisthe embalming and the leaden coffina that preserve them. This particular coffin has however burst, as your ladyship perceives: shell and all, it is laid completely open. But rll soon see whose corpse it is.” With these words, the sexton approached the coffin and held the lantern in such a manner that its rays might fall upon the piece of the broken lid where the plate still remained. As a matter of course the light streamed upon the dead body, from which a considerable portion of the winding- sheet had fallen away; and not only was its countenance exposed, but the neck, chest, and right side were all laid bare. “I should think that this body must have been placed here at least twenty years ago,” ob- served the sexton, as he thus took a near view of the loathsome spectacle. “It is even more swollen and discoloured than it is decomposed, now that I examine it close. In fact, it must have been splendidly embalmed—for the features are well nigh perfect—and the hands are entire. Ah! here’s actually the mark of a ring upon one of the fingers! Why, the ring that made the mark must have been on the hand until lately: it has evidently been plucked off within a recent period. There’s the scraping, as one may call it, which the ring made along the rotting finger as it was drawn away. But, heavens! how cariously the corpee is discoloured! l’ve seen a vast many bodies in my time—and some few that have been embalmed: but I never saw one that, not being more decomposed than this, was so shockingly discoloured. Besides—not only unnaturally dis- coloured—but also swollen—dreadfully swollen! Ah! it looks uncommonly as if the deceased, whoever he was, had died by poison!” “Well, whose corpse is it?” demanded the as- sistant, somewhat impatiently. “Can’t you make the plate out? or is the inscriptiun rusted away ?” “* No—it is tolerably plain,” returned the sexton. “Let me see? The date is 1775——why, it’s the last Marquis of Bellenden, to be sure,—her lady- ship’s husband!” exclaimed Northwitch. “Cover up the remains with something!” cried the Rev. Mr. Roberts. “ Here—stay——I will run and fetch a piece of the church mourning from the vestry——"’ * No—do not trouble yourself,” said the Mar- cbioness, as she clung to his arm: and the voice in which she spoke was low and hollow. ‘Ab! your ladyship is unwell?” exclaimed Mr. Roberts; and turning his eyes upon the Mar. chioness, he was atartled aad shocked at the ghastly expression which her countenance wore. “Shall I eonduct you hence?—let me lead you away? The sickly odour—the dreadful spectacle —and the sexton’s words—all are enough to overpower your ladyship——” “No, no—I will remain—I feel better now,” murmured the Marchioness: theo, with an almost superhuman effort to crush the feelings that were struggling in her bosom, she turned towards the sexton, saying, “ Mr. Northwitch, I should recom- mend you to be more cautious and guarded for the fature in the free and off-hand way io which you toxs as it were from the tip of your tongue the first words that come uppermost. You should weigh CONNEC OOO SS