The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 233: what you’re looking at

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

206 REYNOLDS’ WORKS constraint, yet the same feeling was in both hearts alike, for each knew that though suspicion was set at rest for ever, yet that the wide gulf which had opened between them could never be completely bridged, that love was done for them, and that even friendship’s self would lack the warmth which might enable them to go hand in hand with cheerfulness through the world thenceforth. All of a sudden they heard a sound as if the outer door of the dressing-room was opening. Again were their glances quickly turned upon one another, but no superstitious fear was expressed in their looks; and then their eyes were rapidly flung in the direction of the chamber door itself, for footsteps were traversing the dressing-room. ‘This last- mentioned door was opened slowly, and a man appeared upon the threshold. That man was Makepeace. - He was only half-dressed; his countenance was ghastly pale, his features were rigid; his eyes, wide open, seemed to be staring upon vacancy, as if the images reflected in them remained only upon the retina and were carried not in unto the brain. Yes, it was indeed evident that those eyes im- parted to the man himself no more sense of the objects which were imaged there than the polished mirror could know of the things which its surface reflected. Adolphus and Ethel stood back in silent horror, for it was indeed with a feeling of horror they were now smitten as the truth burst upon them. Makepeace was visiting that chamber of the tragedy in a state of somnambulism! The valet advanced toward the bed, taking not the slight- est notice of Adolphus or the countess, although if his eyes had possessed the active sense of vision as well as the mere inert faculty he could not have failed to see them. He bore no light in his hand, yet he was startled not by the glare of the lamp that was burning upon the table. Toward the bed he went, as we have just said; he extended his arms across it, he gesticulated in a strange manner for a few moments; his features, relaxing from their rigidity, became violently convulsed, his eyes rolled in their sockets, as if with the intense horror of the feelings that now inspired him. Adol- phus and Ethel remained motionless and silent, standing aside, but close together, gazing on this dread spectacle, and for an instant they thought that Makepeace beheld them, recognized them, and was about to address them, as ECORMICLIOOKS (E(0)