The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 189: what you’re looking at

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176 THK MYSTERIES. a maddening delight at the hellish game which he was thus playing. Then, so soon as he was tired of mutilating the body with the spade, he threw the implement from him—he stooped down —and with his hands did he tear away the lace- rated flesh from the bones of the corpse! Oh! it was a damnable pastine—an infernal sport! And the wretch chuckled heartily and laughed madly the while. At length he desisted from this wanton, mean- ingless, and incomprehensible mutilation of the dead; and, all his feelings suddenly undergoing a tremendous reaction, he became a prey to mor- tal terror—unnerved—dispirited—robbed of all his energies—with a sensation as if the tide of life iteelf were ebbing away. Then he sank down in a state of total unconsciousness by the side of the corpee which he had torn from its coffin and so cruelly mangled. For nearly two hours did this utter prostration last,—two mortal bours during which the man remained in a deep trance, giving not the slightest sign of life. Infuriate monster as he that night proved himself to be,a child might now have slain him, so helpless and eo insensible was he! But all on a sudden—as if a cannon bad been fired close by his ear, or as If the rod of a most powerful galvanic battery had been applied to him—he started up. Consciousness returned not gradually—but with a marvellous abruptness: life flowed not back by fent ripples his heart, but poured in with a sudden volume that sent ali the auxiliary rills coursing with light- ning speed through the veins. “OQ God! is ft possible?—have I done it again ?” he cried, or rather shrieked forth in bis anguish, as his eyes, the moment they opened once more, encountered the mangled corpse—the violated coffin—the rent winding-sheet—the open grave—and all the ghastly features of the place which he had made the scene of his infernal revelry. For a few lnstants he stood gazing upon the mutilated dead—appalled at the hideous evidences of his own demoniac conduct: then, seized with a sadden terror he turned to fly from the spot. But, forgetting how ticklish was the ground on which he trod, he utterly neglected his wonted precaution of walking upon the tombstones. The result of this oblivionsness on his part was speedily made manifest : for scarcely bad he rushed away from the immediate vicinage of the open grave and the mangled corpse, when he trod upon the very wire a portion of which be had ere now cut so cautiously away. There was an immediate explosion of the spring-gun with which that wire had connexion ; —end a yell of agony burst from the lips of the monster-man as he received a dozen shot- wounds in various parts of his body. An alarm was instaneously raised in the neigh- bouring houses: lights were speedily seen to gieam at the windows and move about in those dwellings—and men's voices were heard calling to each other, as neighbour demanded of neigh- bour whether he had caught the ominous sound of the spring-gan and would hasten in search of the midnight desecrator of graves. In afew minutes s dozen persons were basten- ing from different directions to the churchyard; and amongst the tombs did they unbesitatingly EPH © SEP. GW ay ap En SEE EE EE A ae plunge, there being no longer any danger from the spring-gun es its contents were discharged. Guided by the moon-light, they soon discovered the spot where the grave had been desecrated and the corpee mangled: but vainly did they search for the miscreant who had accomplished the dia- bolical work. There were fresh marks of blood near the open grave: those marks were traced to a distance of several yards—and on reaching the pathway which intersected the cemetery they were sud- denly lost altogether. The individuals engaged in this research se- parated in all directions to hunt down the wretch who had so long been carrying on this diabolical game, but who now appeared likely to fall into the hands of justice at last. It was evident from the blood-stains that he had been severely wounded: and the inference was therefore na- tural that his arrest must speedily follow. But after beating about all the viclnage of the churchyard for upwards of an hour—after scruti-~ nizing every nook and corner which the seachers could possibly think of—they found all their en- deavours fruitless ahd all their baffled. The monster-man had eaca ving the open ve, the mangled corpse, and the shovel which had used as dreadful evidences of his presence in that quarter: while the discharged spring-gun and the useless search seemed to afford confirma- tion for many s gossip's tale respecting the horrors and mysteries of Vampyriem! CHAPTER OCLXVIIL THE PRINCE AXD THE SHERIFF'S OFFICER. Ir was about three o'clock in the afternoon, on the second day after the arrest of Mra. Fits- herbert; and his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was seated alone in his private apartment, busfly en in perusing s long letter which he had received from a friend whom he had sent over to Germany for the especial purpose of mak- ing a true and faithful report of the personal ap- rance and intellectual qualities of the Princess aroline of Branswick. His Royat Highness was attired in his morn- fog-gown,.a pair of loose breeches, stockings without garters, end slippers; and he was half- reclining in an indolent manner in an arm-chair near the fire, reading with the profoundest interest the document which he had fust received from his emissary to Germany. “Oh! good teeth,” he murmured to himeslf: “well, 1 am glad of that! If there be one feature more lovely than another, it is the teeth. A beautiful face is spoiled by indifferent teeth. Give me a plain woman with good teeth in pre- ference to a charming creature with bad teeth. Ah! poor Octavis Clarendoh—what rows of had she! But Pauline too—yes, Miss line has teeth equally fine. And I have lost sight of those girls entirely lately. Ever since that accursed masquerade rather the interruption at Mrs. Brace’s house—I seem to have abandoned all idea of possessing Pauline. But, by Jove! it is only a seearing on my : for now that eome accident or sn- ther has recalled her image so vividly t my COLIMIG 5 DOO (CO