The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

AFTER THE MURDER ol ‘“ No, this gate is never locked,” returned the earl. ‘‘ Let. us lose no time in hollowing a grave for the wretch who is no more,” he added, with feverish impatience. A spot amidst the evergreens was chosen, and Meagles fell to work. The nobleman, inspired with an intense anxiety to remove all traces of the crime from above the earth, rendered effectual assistance; and in somewhat less than an hour a pit was dug of a sufficient depth for the required purpose. The corpse was then placed therein, the mould was shovelled back, the superfluous soil was scattered over the ground in the vicinity, and the unblessed obsequies of the murdered man were concluded. The Earl of Desborough now seemed to breathe easily for the first time since the enactment of the fatal tragedy in which his wife played the part of heroine. He invited Meagles to enter the manor and take some refreshment after the toils of the last hour; but Tim had an insuperable re- pugnance to remain longer than was necessary with the earl, for the words which the nobleman uttered when he Joined the countess at the shrubbery gate had clearly indicated his complicity in the deed. In plain terms Meagles saw that the earl was an accessory before the fact; and great though the provocation had been, he could not regard the noble couple in any other light than a murderer and a murderess. He accordingly took a hasty leave of Lord Desborough, and retraced his steps to the public-house. It was now past eleven o’clock, and Meagles found the landlord anxiously awaiting his return. But Tim was already prepared how to act; and, immediately on entering the tavern, he exclaimed, ‘‘ Well, is that fellow come back? ”’ ‘No, sir,” was the landlord’s reply. ‘‘ What has hap- pened? ” “I suppose he has smelt a rat and bolted,” returned Meagles. ‘‘ I followed him for a considerable distance; but he evidently saw that I was watching him — ”’ ‘Ah! then I am swindled out of the dinner and the wine which he had,” interrupted the landlord, in a tone of vexation. ‘ He will never come back — that’s quite sure.” “You may put his expenses down in my Dill,’ said Meagles, in an offhand manner, “‘ since it was I who frightened the rascal away from your house. And now give me a glass GOMmiiGcdoc SS) (S@)