The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

AN INTERVIEW IN NEWGATE 193 hour; and, on leaving the cell, he locked and bolted the door. — Arthur rose from his seat, placed a chair for Caroline, and then, resuming his place, anxiously waited for her to explain the purport of her visit. ‘ Mr. Eaton,” she said in a low, but firm and impressive, tone, ‘‘ we have an identity of interests at this moment; and the discovery which I have made that such is the fact is the only apology I need offer for obtruding myself upon your notice. In a word, you are innocent, and I am innocent; and we must aid and succour each other in proving our guiltlessness, ay, and in bringing fhe real criminal to justice.”’ “The real criminal in which case?” asked the young gentleman, naturally placing himself upon his guard with a stranger. ‘ In both cases,”’ was the significant reply. ** Ah! is it possible? ” exclaimed Eaton, with a start. “Do you doubt it? ”’? demanded Caroline, earnestly. “You mistake the feeling which wrung from me that ejaculation of astonishment,’’ returned Arthur. ‘ The truth is, I had myself entertained a certain suspicion, but only vaguely and distantly, it is true; and now my wonder is excited at observing that you speak confidently of what I had scareely dared to suspect faintly.” ‘I understand,” said Caroline. ‘‘ There have been mo- ments when you have fancied it to be just possible that the. same hand which inflicted the death-blow upon William Dudley likewise carried the work of assassination into the home of the midwife? But you have not been able as yet to bring your mind to the settled conviction that such was indeed the fact? ”’ | “You have interpreted my thoughts accurately, Miss Walters,’”’ observed the Honourable Mr. Eaton. ‘‘ But how have you obtained the certainty — ”’ “That Fernanda is the murderess in both cases? ” said Caroline, in ominous tone and with significant manner. “Ah! sir, the evidence against her speaks with a thousand tongues. I know everything connected with yourself and that perfidious creature, Lady Holderness; for I was an inmate of the midwife’s house when she became a mother there, yes, and when the offspring of her shame was foully murdered on a night of tempest and of storm.” ““ Murdered! ”’ ejaculated Arthur Eaton, every lineament COI G OO) <S m