The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

rapidly taking, her emotions of joy for herself and sorrow for Arthur Eaton swelled into a tide that | broke down the barrier of her fortitude aad found its vent in a flood of copious weeping. “Compose yourself — my dear child — compose yourself,” said a familiar voice; and, raising her head abruptly, Rose found that Mra, Brace was by her side in the duck. At this moment Mr. Peter Gramley and his man Mobbs entered the court; and going straight up t Counsellor Sharply, they whispered carnestly with that learned gentieman for a few minutes. “A presentiment tells me that you will not be many more minutes here,” said the milliner, in a low tone of touching tenderness admirably assumed. Rose cast a glance of deep gratitude upon Mrs. Brace for that assurance; and the milliner, unprin- cipled and profligate as she was, felt a pang of remorse pass poignantly through her bosom as she cemembered-all the persecution, misery, and suffer- ing which the pvor orphan had experienced at her “ Has anything new transpired ?” demanded the magistrate, addressing himself to Mr. Counsellor Sharply, who had just desisted from whispering to the two police-coustables. . “Yes, your worship—and something of the high- est importance,” responded the learned gentleman. Once more did a breathless silence and a sen. sation of painfal suspense pervade the court. “Proceed with your evidence, Mr. Sharply,” said the magistrate. “J call Peter Grumley to the witness-box,” ex-~- claimed the barrister, the expression of whose countenance was most mysteriously knowing. And Mr, Grumley, having entered the box, was duly sworn to the effect that the evidence he was about to give to the Coart shouid be the trath, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God | When this ceremony was accomplished, a still- neas deep as that which follows a terrific rolling of thunder, once more reigned in the Police-Office; and inasmuch as the gentlemen of the long robe are mmaszingly fond of those proceedings the phases of which produce grand effects, Mr. Counsellor Sharply suffered at least a minute to elapse ere he chose.to disturb a silence which in reality was characterised by an awe-inspiring solemnity, At length he drew his gown over his shoulders, and addressing Peter Grumley, said, “1 believe you have been somewhere during the interval of the ad- journment which just now took place?” “ Yes, sir,” was the reply.: “ Leastways me and my man Mobbs has been somevheres——~” -“And whither have’ you been?” was the next leading question. . . ote s “JTo> Lord Marchmont'’s “Square,” answered Grumley. -24 What did you do there ?” “TJ searched the room which used to be occupied by the deceased William Dudley, and also the cham- ber belonging to the Hon. Mr. Eaton.” - “Bat I believe you found nothing of any conse- quence in the former apartment ?” said Mr. Sharply. . “No, sir—nothing,” was the response. -* And in the latter—that isto say the bed-chamber ? House in Hanover ©“ found something there—in «a chest of drawers——" Buse w- e ~ ry —--™- a was it f° comensed , Comneelice m4 «This blade of a knife,” returned Gramley, peo ducing the object mentioned. " The usher took it and handed it up to the magis- trate, who immediately applied it to the knife which lay before him. It fitted exactly, and was evidently the blade which had been broken off from that ife! A murmur of astonishment and horror ran through the Court: for now that circumstantial evidence pointed to Arthur Eaton as being beyond all possi- bility of doubt the murderer of William Dudley, the more subdued feelings that were previously attendant on the mere suspicion, became enhanced into a boundless wonder and an immense abhorrence,— wonder that such an ingenuous-looking young man could be so great a criminal—and abhorrence not only at the deed itself, but at the base attempt which had apparently been made to shift the burden and the responsibility of the guilt apon the shoulders of an innocent young girl. ‘9? “You are safe, my dear child,” whispered the. milliner with a triumphant accent in the ears of ‘Rose : Foster. : ve"y pe “God be thanked ’? murmured the orphan, clasp- ing her hands fervently. “ But that: ‘gentleman-—- Oh! that such wickedness should — in the human heart ——” a * =: “Hush!” whispered Mrs. Brace: “he is going to spearrm eet “Your worship will be pleased to hear me for a few moments,” said Arthur Eaton, now recovering the faculty of speech which he had lost for nearly a mioute when the last overwhelming incident had completed the chain of circumstantial evidence against him. tere. “T should certainly advise you ¢o reserve your de-. fence, Mr. Eaton,” observed the magistrate, with‘an ominous significance. “ My defence !” ejaculated the young gentleman. “What am 1 to understand by those wards f” he de- ' manded, with mingled hauteur and indignation. “1 will explain myself more fully, sir,’ eaid the magistrate, in a stern tone and in a severe manner. “But in the first place, with regard to the young person still standing in the dock, I must declare that. the evidence against her has not only totally failed, but that she is entitled to the deepest sympathy for: having even for a moment been compelled to endure the anxiety, torture, and ignominy of a position in which she never ought to have been placed."’ These words were greeted with an outburat of applause on the part of the spectators; while Rose, overcome by her feelings, fell weeping and sobbing convuisively into the arms of Mrs, Brace. ry “J therefore,” continued the magistrate, “have un-_ feigned pleasure in directing Miss Foster to leave the dock; and I assure her that in thus pronouncing her discharge, not a shadow of euspicion remains in my mind concerning her.” ‘¢No one is more delighted than myself at this acquittal of the young: lady,” exclaimed Arthur Eaton, with a generous frankness of manner which of course passed as the rankest and wilest bypocrisy, with all present: then, haughtily indifferent to the. aneers which curled the lips of th untenancesy that met his eyes, he added, “And I sheartily beg Miss Foster’s forgiveness for having in any way bee instrumental in causing her the inconvenience wrt ¢ 4 a ee \. 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