The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 375: what you’re looking at

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° fF 364 In about ten minutes the stone was raised more than two feet from the mouth of the buttress ;—and the steward desired the masons to desist from winding any more. “ What a patrid odour there is,” said the lawyer's elerk, retreating a few paces from the buttress and eniffing with the disagreeable sensation. “ So there is,” observed one of the masons. “ Depend upon it there's stagnant water inside the buttress,” said the steward: “ and if so, the foundation of the bridge can’t be right. ‘You must look to it be- fore her ladyship commences the ceremony.” “Here! I will soon see what's the matter,” ex- claimed young Brooks: and dropping down upon his hands and knees, he protruded his head beneath the overhanging stone so as to look down into the hallow of the buttress. “ Well—what is it ”” demanded the overseer of the masons. “The ameli is bad enough—but I cannot see any- thing shining like water. And yet—there is some- thing—but it is dark—and al] haddled up———- My God ! yes—it is—it is—the corpse of a man !” And as these ejaculations, vented in horror, strock thrillingly through every brain and to every heart, kindred echoes barst from the lips of those present. “A corpse 3° exclaimed the steward, springing for- ward. “ And it smells like one,” said the lawyer's cler#” “Good heavens! is it possible!” cried the Mar- chioness of Bellenden, exchanging a rapid look of deep meaning with Margaret. “ Come, now—don't stand idling there,” vociferated the overseer to his men: “but lift the stone a little higher, and let some one get ready a hook and a oord.” The windlass began to groan and the winch-rope to ereak again; while young Brooks, having fastened an dron hook to a piece of cord, dropped it into the buttress. The spectators stood gazing on the operations, with out- steetehed peoks, fixed looks, lips apart, and attitudes of painfal sespense ; but ejaculations of horror again Durst from their tongues, when they perceived by the motions of young Brooks that he was dragging up some heavy abject. And, sure enough! it was a corpse that the hook and the cord were now bringing to the mouth of the battress: bet how appalling was the consternation Which appeared to seize upon all present, when the farmer’s son exclaimed in a tone of mingled horror and amazement, “ Good God! ‘tis Lord Raymond !" ei. Marchioness, having exchanged another rapid and meahing glance with Margaret, rushed forward as if to assure herself that such was indeed the fact: Mra, Brooks and ber danghter both became so dread- fully agitated that it was found necessary to remove them from the spot ;—and the lawyer’s clerk ex- ‘Well, I declared that I would see the The corpee was now completely dragged forth from the interior of the buttress and stretched upon the It was much decomposed: but there was in identifying it as that of Lord Ray- Montgomery. The long fair hair, matted and p with the clammy dews of death though it were, remained: the apparel, soiled and even rotting y parts as it was, was also recognised ;—and, though the countenance was livid and dis- there could be no doubt that in the decom- Hi F E posing carcase which lay at their feet, the herrer- stricken spectators beheld the remains ef the onese handsome, elegant, but unfortunate Raymond. But in order that no evidence ecaloulated to esta- blish this identity should remain disregarded, the pockets of the deceased were searched. A purse fall of money was found upon him—his watch was safe in his fob—and on bis finger was a diamond ring im- mengse value. It therefore became evident that, if he had been foully dealt with, plunder was not the object. | of his assassins. But his papers—his letters? Ah! these were indeed found in his pocket-book: but the: damp had committed such ravages upon them, that all the writing was utterly obliterated, and the docu- ments themselves fell to pieces when touched. And now arose the questions, “ Was it really mur der, or might it not have been suidide "*—and “lft were murder, who could have done it? “ Murder—and nothing less,” exclaimed Mr. Rig- den’s head clerk, who had all his wits about him despite the shocking scene whereof he had so unex- pectedly become a witness. “Look here—the moath is held open by a gag—something between the teeth —it seems like a bit of sponge——” “And so it is,” said the overseer. “Poor young gentieman—he has been foully murdered I” “And it was on the very day of his disappearance that the stone was found to have fallen,” observed “ And what's more, one of the men declared at the time that as he was coming down yon hill to his work, he saw a carriage driving sway post-haste up the lane: but we didn’t think much about it then--——” - “And now that incident becomes of value and im- portance,” the Marchioness of Bellenden hastened to ob- serve. “For my part, I take the carilest opportunity of Geclaring that no one in this district must be suspected. ef the deed—no one dwelling in this vicinage mast be pointed to as the supposed author of the tremendous crime! No—that carriage which was seen departing so hurriedly on the morning of the catastrophe, affords the clne—the only feasible clue—to the reading of the mystery ; and the justice of heaven will sooner or later overtake the murderer.” “ Provided the chain of evidence is daly followed up, my lady,” said the lawyer's clerk; “and I admit With your ladyship that the circumstance of the car- riage is the first link in that chain. As for suspecting any of these honest people about here, it is out of the question,” added the man of business, in whose mind a suspicion was already rising up,—a suspicion which, though as yet faint and vague in its inception, was still strong enough to prompt the declaration he had just made. “I am giad, sir, that you echo my own belief,” this difficult and delicate business; and you deserve the best thanks of all present for the manly aad honest way in which you expressed your opinion. It would be cruel indeed if unjust suspicion fell upon any individual who could have had no earthly motive | for the perpetration of this dreadful crime.” “There will be an inquest, of course, my lady,” said the steward ; “and then the whole matter wih be duly and properly investigated. Meantime, al’ opinions shoald be suspended.” IE EE a est ElOOO® SS