The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 372: what you’re looking at

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

LAST ACT OF NIGHT'S TRAGEDY 300 old lady was positively and actually taking her this time for Bergami himself, laughed inwardly as she continued her way along: the passage. Once more all was quiet. Mrs. Ranger’s door had closed again, and Emma did not choose to waste a single moment in inquiring why the old lady was up still, and what she was doing when peeping forth into the passage. No, not an instant could Emma spare from the time which was now so precious, and was to be devoted as soon as possible to the delights of love. : And now the door of Bergami’s apartment was gained, and Emma was about to knock gently with her delicate fingers, when she suddenly became aware of the stealthy creeping of some one near her. She turned around abruptly, and the look she threw was the last that ever flashed from her eyes in this hfe. For at the same moment her throat was grasped by hands of such iron strength that the cry which rose up in her terror was stifled in an instant, utterly subdued, ere even the very breath on which it was to be wafted forth could issue from the quivering lips. Simultaneously with this vigorous and effective assault, a long, sharp dagger was driven deep down into the unfortunate young woman’s bosom, and penetrating her heart, death was instanta- neous. This fearful deed occupied not a minute, and so noise- lessly was 1t performed that Mrs. Ranger, who was inside her room holding the door ajar and listening attentively, could scarcely hear the sound of even the faintest struggle. But, nevertheless, there was just a sufficiency of noise to reach the ears of Bergami and Loftus within the room at the door of which the tremendous tragedy took place. Thinking, however, it was Emma groping her way thither, perhaps in the dark, they only opened the door gently. But as the hght strained forth from the chamber, what a spectacle met their view! Cries of horror burst from their lips, and at the same time their ears caught the sounds of rapidly retreating footsteps. Then rang the alarm of murder through the house, that terrific cry bursting like the knell of doom upon the ears of startled sleepers in the depth of the night. But along the passage sped Loftus and Bergami, down the stairs thev precipitated themselves, and on the landing below they CORNICLOOL cS (C(O) mM