The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

WHO IS THE CULPRIT? 197 him. It fitted exactly, and was evidently the blade which had been broken off from that knife. | A murmur of astonishment and horror ran through the court; for now that circumstantial evidence pointed to Arthur Eaton as being beyond all possibility 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 abhor- rence, — 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 upon the shoulders of an innocent young girl. ‘You are safe, my dear child,’’ whispered the milliner, with a triumphant accent, in the ears of Rose Foster. ‘‘God be thanked! ”? murmured the orphan, clasping her hands fervently. ‘‘ But that gentleman — Oh, that such wickedness should exist in the human heart — ”’ ‘‘ Hush! ”’ whispered Mrs. Brace; “‘ he is going to speak.” “Your worship will be pleased to hear me for a few mo- ments,” said Arthur Eaton, now recovering the faculty of speech which he had lost for nearly a minute when the last overwhelming incident had completed the chain of circum- stantial evidence against him. ‘“‘T should certainly advise you to reserve your defence, Mr. Eaton,” observed the magistrate, with an ominous significance. ‘‘ My defence! ” ejaculated the young gentleman. ‘‘ What am I to understand by those words?”’ he demanded, with mingled hauteur and indignation. ‘TI will explain myself more fully, sir,’ said the magis- trate, 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 outburst of applause on the part of the spectators; while Rose, overcome by her feelings, fell weeping and sobbing convulsively into the arms of Mrs. Brace. (C(O) ANC } KS) \