The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 344: what you’re looking at

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

EARL OF MONTGOMERY’S VISITORS © 3138 with his looks, “ tell me when and under what circumstances my poor brother died.”’ ‘““ My lord,’’ resumed the clerk, his tone and demeanour increasing in solemnity, now that his suspicions relative to the earl were allayed and that he could respect the noble- man’s grief, ‘“‘ my lord, your brother has been most foully and mysteriously dealt with: in plain terms, his death has been a violent one, and murder has done its frightful work.” “Murder! ”’ echoed Lord Montgomery, his countenance becoming livid and ghastly. ‘“‘ No, no! you cannot mean that my poor Raymond has been murdered.” “Tt is, alas! too true, my lord,’ answered the clerk. “Yesterday morning, between seven and eight o’clock, and in the company of the Marchioness of Bellenden, who was present at the mournful scene, I beheld the remains of Lord Raymond dragged forth from the buttress of Malden bridge.”’ ‘You are talking strangely — most strangely,” exclaimed the earl; “‘ or else my brain is confused and bewildered by erief. The Marchioness of Bellenden present at the time — my brother’s remains — the buttress of a bridge — ” “Oh! my lord, it is indeed too true,” cried the clerk; *‘ and the terrible spectacle will haunt me for the remainder of my life. I am sorry that accident led me to the spot at the mo- ment when the young lord’s body was discovered beneath the stone.” ‘‘ But the Marchioness of Bellenden? ”’ exclaimed the earl, whose fearful excitement and alarm were taken by the clerk for a genuine affliction and horror at his brother’s appalling fate; “‘ how came she there at such a time and on such an occasion? ”’ ‘To fulfil some ceremony with regard to the bridge,” responded the clerk; “‘ and as it was deemed requisite that her ladyship should deposit certain coins in the hollow of the buttress, the crowning stone was raised for that purpose. The dreadful discovery was then made that there was a corpse beneath, and this corpse proved to be the remains of your lordship’s brother! ”’ “Good heavens! what will my poor mother feel? ” cried Eugene, clasping his hands with all the apparent agony of despair. ‘ It will be the death of her! But the Marchioness of Bellenden, how took she the dread spectacle? ”’ “ Her ladyship was as much shocked and affected as any Gomiuicboc “S (E(0)