The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

328 THE COURT OF LONDON body suspended in chains to a gibbet on the point of land, at this very moment,” he added. “ It was positively gloomy and dispiriting even to me and my harum-scarum friend here to listen to the dreadful creaking of the irons as the corpse swung to and fro. But, however, we took a wherry, and were crossing the river, through a darkness so intense that it was something like the one which fell upon Egypt — I mean it might be felt —”’ ‘“‘ Well, sir, — well? ”’ interrupted the Big Beggarman, im- patiently, for he was now still more interested in the narra- tive, and suspicions of what was coming were rising rapidly and fearfully up in his mind. “The waterman had scarcely pushed off the boat,’’ con- tinued Meagles, ‘“‘ when a terrific scream, apparently coming from the middle of the river, met our ears.” ‘‘ And, oh, such a scream! I shall never forget it as long as I live!’ exclaimed the Amazon, shuddering visibly. ‘ It still tingles in my ears.”’ “It must have been very unpleasant,’ said the Beggar- man, in whose ears that scream likewise tingled. ‘“ But pray go on, sir; you — you interest me.” ‘““ Well, it immediately struck us that it must be a man either drowning or being murdered,’ resumed Meagles. ‘“ Murdered! — what made you think that?’”’ demanded the ruffian, hastily. ‘Oh, you may well shudder at it, my good friend,” said Meagles, ‘‘ for, my God! if you had heard that awful, rend- ing, piercing scream of dying agony, you would never for- get it. I ordered the waterman to pull with all his might, though I was fearful that no good could be done in the pitchy darkness.”’ “And did you — did you — see anything?’”’ asked the Beggarman, scarcely able to hide the trouble which now filled his guilty soul. ‘“‘ Head! ’’ exclaimed Meagles, ‘‘it was scarcely possible to see your hand at a distance of six inches from your face, although, by the bye, we could see the gibbet and the body through the darkness; but, somehow or another, those things are never completely hidden, even in the blackest night. There seems to be a Providence in all that!” “Dear me, Tim, how you are wandering!” cried the Amazon; ‘ and here is the worthy landlord all impatience comicbooks.aeeynny