The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

THE OATHS 213 heard the noise of some one digging up the earth at a little distance. This noise was so low as to render them still uncertain whether they rightly interpreted its cause, but as every incident now appeared to them to be invested with an importance bearing upon their own circumstances, they resolved to ascertain what these sounds could mean. Noise- lessly they advanced over the grass-plat in the direction of the spot whence those sounds appeared to come, until they both fancied that they beheld something white moving behind a clump of evergreens. Nearer still did they advance, their footsteps unheard upon the soft grass, and both thread- ing their way amongst the shrubs and the parterres of flowers with so much caution as not to ruffle a single leaf, until they were near enough to see what was going on with- out themselves being seen. A man with his coat and waist- coat off was digging in that spot, which was the remotest corner of the grounds, and also the most densely embowered in trees. It was his shirt which had shone white through the foliage and amidst the deepening obscurity of the evening. He was working hard, as if the task he had in hand must be speedily accomplished; he was working, too, with the fullest sense of security and in confidence of remaining undisturbed at that hour when all the domestics were in the servants’ hall, and when he fancied the earl, the countess, and Mr. Slater to be deep in the midst of deeds and parchments in the library. For this man was Makepeace. Adolphus and Ethel were at once smitten with the con- viction that this was some new phase which must develop itself in the growing chain of evidence against the murderer of the old earl, and in breathless suspense they continued gazing upon his proceedings, they themselves taking care to continue unseen. They had not tarried many minutes on the spot before they perceived Makepeace stoop down, and from the hole which he had digged he drew forth an object which appeared to be a stone jar, about a foot and a half high and of a proportionate width. At the same instant there was a low but still plainly audible chink of gold coins within the jar, or vase, as Makepeace deposited it upon the ground. He then proceeded to shovel back the earth with ail possible despatch. Adolphus touched Ethel, as a signal that they must retire, and they accordingly retreated as cautiously and as noiselessly as they had advanced toward that spot. CORnnICLOOOKS (CO)