The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

Se 19 was shocked at the thought that he who had ap- peared as the principal witness against her could possibly be himself the perpetrater of the crime. A &ilm came over her eyes—a dizziness passed through her brain—and a sickness seized upon her heart : for her generous nature experienced the same boundless compassion for Arthur Eaton which he himself had all along felt for hey;—and moreover, her confidence in human nature was suddenly prosirated by the idea that a young man with so ingenuous a countle- nauce, a brow whereon such noble thoughis seemed “Sir, you must answer the learned gentleman's responded the magistrate, with a curt- ness evincing the unfavourable impression already made upon his mind in respect to Eaton. “ Thea I at once and emphatically decline to ex- plain any of the antecedents connected with the murdered Dudley,” said the young gentieman, suddenly recovering a composure and a firmness which might have arisen from a consummate hardi- hood as well.as from those generous feelings which in reality prompted his conduct: but inasmuch as impressed, and eyes wherein all lofty emotions! the true motives which swayed him at the time were might be read,—her soul sank cowering down, we sey, With alarm and anguish at the thought that the being created after the image of God was capable of auch tremendous bypoorisy ! Bat this sensation of physical and mental faint- ness was as evanescent as it was profound: and all the young gir!’s ideas fell baok again into their pro- per channels and ebe was recalled completely to her- self, when Counsellor Sharply began to question the Hon. Arthur Eaton, “ It appeared, sir, by your statement of this morn- ing,” said the learned gentieman, “that from the eourt-yard of the building where the tragedy took place, four passages branch off; and you beheld your female figure dressed in black rush up the passage Jeading due north. Wasit not so?” “It was ao,” answered Mr. Eaton, in a tone which appeared alike gloomy and impatient. “ And you heard another witness declare it was on the southern side of the buildings that the prisoner was stopped by himself and others?” said Mr. Sharply, with an interrogative aocentuation. “1 heard that point established in evidence,” re-| sponded Eaton; “and I once more prociaim that I shal] be delighted to see the innocence of the young lady in the dock fully established.” “ Perhaps you will be gratified, sir,’ remarked the Counseilar, drily and laconicaily. “ Now, sir,” he continued, “ will you be so kind as to state whether you were always on good terms with your valet, William Dudley ——” “If there be any harm that I might say of the dead,” exclaimed Arthur Eaton indignantly, “I would sooner die myself than reveal it |” This answer produced a breathless amasement throughout the court—astonishing even Counsellor Sharply himself, who in truth had merely put one of those bap-hagard and random questions which barristers so frequently ask, and to which they are far from anticipating any important result, “Then there ie harm which you know and can prociaim in reference to the deceased William Dudley?’ said the learned gentleman, fixing his keen searching eyes upon the young gentleman, who was evidently much pained and agitated by ého sudden turn which the proceedings were taking, “Come, sir—let us have a frank, honest, and straight-forward answer, if you please,” added Mr. Sharply, who was now looking souncommonly know- ing that all the spectators really fancied he had purposely entered upon this line of ex- amination, instead of having fallen into it by one of those mere hazards which so often bring the most unexpected fish to the legal net which forensic artifice throws out. “Your worship, I appeal te you——” began Ar- chur Easton, his agitation every mo- ment, totally unknown and of course unsuspected in that court, every one present looked upon him as dis-. playing that dogged defiance and bold-fronted obstinacy with which the perpetrators of enormous crimes so frequently endeavour to arm themselves. “Remember, Mr. Maton,” said the magistrate, leaning over hia desk and spesking in a low but earneant tone to. the young gentleman,—“ remember, Mr. Eatan, the equivocal position in which you stand; and take notice that the fullest and mest satisfactory explanation is required at the hands of every one situated as you now are,” “Let Mr. Sharply detail the grounds of those suspicions which he has dared to allege as existing against me,” exclaimed Mr. Eaton, in a loud tone and withan air of superb indignation, — “and I shall know how to answer him.” . “ But he has a right to question you, Mr, Eaton, on preliminary matters,” observed the “Then, in. reference to William Dudley,” said the young genUeman, after a few moments’ pro- found refleetion, “ I will state this much,—that some short time ago 1 had reason—much reasen—to he dissatisfied with him: but J pardoned him—and the influence of that forgiveness on my part produced the most salutary results. In a word, William Dadley became a man whom I would have trusted with untold gold ;—and the proof of my exoelleng opinien of him may be found in the fact that I had purposed and promised to place him at the head of the institution for which the building where he met his death is intended.” “JI must now question you upon another point, Mr. Eaton,” said Counsellor Sharply, who was be- ginning to wonder why Grumley and Mobbs did not make their appearance. “You have already admitted, in your examination of this morning, that Mies Foster was, so far as you are aware, totally unknown to William Dudley and that you can- not! conceive any possible motive which she could have for the crime aé present.imputed to her? Now, will you please to inform me whether the deceased was connected, in apy shape or way, with any t woman who might have a motive in causing his death? Any love affzir—any vengeance that might seek its bloody gratification——"’ “Ah! it is possible!” murmured Arthur Eaton, a ray of light darting in unto bis soul with the vivid- ness of the electric fluid flashing through a dark chamber: and, pressing his hand to his brew, he re- mained standing thus for nearly a minute, absorbed in the deepest—most painful thought. For ali on a sudden had the suspicion sprung up in his mind that Fernanda—the vindictive, unspar- ing, merciless Fernanda—might have done the atro-~ cious deed. Hitherto circumstantial evidence had so completely pointed towards Hose Foster, that the young gentleman was compelled, as we have already — =a (CO (C DOO (CO