The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

EXPLANATIONS 23 mysteriously conducted her away, — upon that bed was stretched the corpse of the landlady, her countenance black- ened and swollen, presenting a hideous and loathsome spectacle, with all the evidences of having been smothered or strangled. Now did the terrific truth flash to the com- prehension of the horrified Kate Marshall. The mystery was cleared up. She comprehended it all. The measures of the gendarmes were promptly taken. A couple of them hastened to attach the mules to the vehicle, and into this Kate Marshall and Paquetta, by their direc- tion, entered. Kate’s trunk was not forgotten; indeed she was treated with the utmost courtesy and respect, and she comprehended that it was as a witness her presence was thus to be required elsewhere. One of the gendarmes drove the chaise. The muleteers and the innkeeper, their arms pinioned with cords, were compelled to march on foot in the midst of the mounted band of police, who took good care to keep a firm hold of the long ends of the ropes which bound them. We should add that no other persons belonged to the hostelry besides those already mentioned, — the landlord himself hav- ing been accustomed to act as his own hostler, the murdered woman and the servant-girl performing all the domestic duties of so limited an establishment. Before the party quitted the house where the terrific tragedy had occurred, the doors were carefully secured, the police taking the keys away with them, thus leaving the corpse of the murdered woman behind. As the chaise rolled on through the darkness of the forest, Kate Marshall testified to the utmost of her power the im- mensity of that gratitude which she experienced toward her young companion, to whom she indeed deeply felt that she owed her life. She embraced her, she pressed her hands to her lips, she caressed her in the most affectionate and endearing manner; she could not lavish too many proofs of friendship, love, and attachment upon one to whom she lay under such incalculable obligations. Paquetta had by this time recovered her fortitude and presence of mind, and the joy she experienced on account of the providential arrival of the gendarmes absorbed a portion of the otherwise stu- pendous horror which the tragedy was but too well calcu- lated to excite. Such was also the case with Miss Marshall, and her deliverance from the dreadful dangers which had CONNIE DOOKS (C©)