The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

50 THE COURT OF LONDON could not help shuddering as he approached the inanimate form that lay upon the dewy sward; and a sickening sensa- tion took possession of him as his looks fell upon the pale and blood-stained countenance of the dead. For the contents of the pistol had penetrated the brain of the victim, and the forehead seemed entirely shattered. But that feeling of mingled terror and sinking of the heart was only transitory; and, with another searching glance thrown around the field, Tim Meagles began to drag the corpse toward the shrubbery. This portion of the task was soon accomplished, and, having opened the gate, Meagles drew the body inside the enclosure. The Earl of Desborough had not as yet reappeared; and it suddenly struck Meagles that there might be some papers” or letters of consequence about the person of the murdered man. He accordingly stooped down and examined his pockets. A packet of documents, tied with a piece of tape, was the fruit of this search; and Meagles unhesitatingly took possession thereof. But neither the purse nor the watch of the deceased did he touch; had Ramsey’s pocket been lined with precious stones, Meagles would have shrunk in loathing and scorn from the idea of self-appropriating a single one of such gems. Almost ietihesialeadeole after he had taken possession of the packet of papers, the sounds of approaching footsteps reached his ears; and the earl returned, bearing a spade and mattock. The nobleman’ s countenance, as the moonbeams fell upon it, was ghastly pale; and there was a vacant wildness in his looks which showed how terrible an impression the tragedy of the evening had made upon his mind. ‘“‘ My lord,” said Meagles, in an earnest tone, “ you must summon all your courage to your aid. Remember that an incautious word, uttered in the presence of a domestic or a friend, may send your wife to the scaffold.” ““ Holy God, it is but too true! ”’ ejaculated the nobleman, as if startled by the warning into all the poignancy of harrow- ing convictions. ‘‘ Let us hasten and perform our dreadful task.” ‘Does your lordship think that we are secure against observation? ’’ inquired Meagles. ‘‘ Will none of your lordship’s dependents pass in this direction — to lock the gate, or see that all is safe — ”’ CONNIE IOC KS