The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

230 THE COURT OF LONDON convinced these were the individuals whom he sought. But wishing to make sure, he remained silent and motionless where he was, to watch their proceedings. Speaking but little, and this little in a flash language utterly incomprehensible to our hero, the three men went to work without loss of time. Mounting the pier, they threw in their dragging-implements, — for such was the tackle they had brought upon their shoulders, — and after several inef- fectual hauls an ejaculation of satisfaction broke from the lips of one of them. Jocelyn, at no loss to conjecture the meaning of the cry, peeped forth, and as at that very moment a sudden breeze, almost amounting to a squall, swept over the lake, causing the mist to part asunder, as it were, the moon broke forth in the full power of its light, and the silvery beams fell upon the face of a corpse which the fishers of men were dragging to the surface of the water. Our hero recoiled from the ghastly spectacle, and at the Same instant a terrible imprecation burst from the three men. ‘The corpse had broken away from their tackle, the squall having suddenly produced a strong current around the pier-head. Jocelyn now showed himself, and called to the three men to come down. Starting at the appearance of our hero, they at first seemed to hesitate, but when, in the French language, he declared that he was alone and that he had no hostile intent, the fellows hastily descended from the top of the piles. “Who the deuce are you?’ demanded the foremost, who was decidedly entitled to carry off the palm of villainous looks from his companions, vile as their appearance also was. ‘‘ Are youaspy? Do you mean suicide? Or are you a sleep-walker? ”’ ‘“T am none of all these,’’ said our hero, with the calmness of true courage. “Then what do you here, young man? ’”’ demanded the ill-looking fellow. | ‘“‘ T am in search of a person named Kobolt,” said Jocelyn, boldly. “Ah! ’”’ was the man’s ejaculation, ‘‘ do you want him for good or for evil, to do him a mischief or to make his services available? Because it may be that I can help you to an Eomicbooks:com |