The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

140 THE COURT OF LONDON The scene changes to Fore Street, Lambeth. Three hours had passed since the terrible tragedy enacted in the half-finished buildings at Pentonville, and it was now about a quarter-past eleven on this memorable night. From a back room on an upper story of Mrs. Lindley’s house a young female stole noiselessly forth, bearing a candle in her hand; and descending the stairs in breathless silence, she opened the door of the midwife’s parlour. But to her surprise and alarm, lights were burning within, and the great black cat, springing wildly forth, swept madly past the affrighted girl. Caroline Walters, for she it was, felt herself suddenly seized upon by a vague and unknown terror, and staggering against the door-post, she threw her startled looks around the room. And, O horror! upon what appalling object did they settle? : Upon the carpet was stretched the old midwife, a ghastly corpse, and bathed in the blood that was still flowing from her neck. For an instant Caroline Walters stood gazing, spell-bound and transfixed to the spot with dread horror; then, urged by the impulse of an indescribable terror, she turned to fly from the awful scene. But on the stairs she encountered the two servants of the establishment; and, overcome by her horrified feelings, she gave vent to a loud scream and fainted in their arms. When she regained her senses, she was in a hackney-coach and in the custody of two constables, who were conveying her to Horsemonger Lane Gaol on a charge of being the murderess of the midwife. COnniICcLooolkks (CO)