The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAISING OF THE STONE 229 ingly through every brain and to every heart, kindred echoes burst from the lips of those present. ‘‘ A corpse! ’’ exclaimed the steward, springing forward. ‘“ And it smells like one,” said the lawyer’s clerk. ‘‘ Good Heaven! is it possible!’ cried the Marchioness of Bellenden, exchanging a rapid look of deep meaning with Margaret. ‘““ Come, now, don’t stand idling there,” vociferated the overseer to his men; “ but lift the stone a little higher, and let some one get ready a hook and a cord.” The windlass began to groan and the winch-rope to creak again; while young Brooks, having fastened an iron hook to a piece of cord, dropped it into the buttress. The spectators stood gazing on the operations, with outstretched necks, fixed looks, lips apart, and attitudes of painful suspense; but ejaculations of horror again burst from their tongues when they perceived by the motions of young Brooks that he was dragging up some heavy object. And, sure enough! it was a corpse that the hook and the cord were now bringing to the mouth of the buttress; but how appalling was the consternation which appeared to seize upon all present when the farmer’s son exclaimed in a tone of mingled horror and amazement, “‘ Good God! ’tis Lord Raymond! ” The marchioness, having exchanged another rapid and meaning glance with Margaret, rushed forward as if to assure herself that such was indeed the fact. Mrs. Brooks and her daughter both became so dreadfully agitated that it was found necessary to remove them from the spot; and the lawyer’s clerk exclaimed, ‘‘ Well, I declared that I would see the young lord, either alive or dead, before I quitted these parts! ” The corpse was now completely dragged forth from the interior of the buttress and stretched upon the ground. It was much decomposed, but there was no difficulty in identi- fying it as that of Lord Raymond Montgomery. The long fair hair, matted and damp with the clammy dews of death though it were, still remained; the apparel, soiled and even rotting in many parts as it was, was also recognized; and, in fine, though the countenance was livid and disfigured, there could be no doubt that in the decomposing car- cass which lay at their feet, the horror-stricken spectators ) COnnNICLOOOKS (S©)