The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 246: what you’re looking at

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

THE MURDERER 219 to ascertain exactly where I was lying, he drew his hand across my throat — ”’ Groans of horror burst forth from the domestics previously assembled, and from the lips of others who were now entering the room. Makepeace himself groaned, and not for an instant did he dare deny all that had been said. “Ah! now I bethink me,” ejaculated Mr. Slater, ‘‘ the crock, the jar — ”’ ‘“‘ Yes, the golden temptation,” said Adolphus, “‘ for which the deed was perpetrated.” Makepeace gazed with a renewed bewilderment of con- sternation upon the solicitor and the young earl. Not that this new discovery struck him as making his case one atom worse than it was before, but the wretched man was sur- prised to find the various evidences of his guilt thus magically transpiring as it were, accumulating upon him, striking him blow upon blow. ‘“‘ Keep charge of him, keep charge of him!’’ exclaimed Mr. Slater. ‘‘ You, my lord, will remain to watch over him — or, what is better still, convey him to some place of security until the police can be fetched. Let some one run to the nearest station-house, and let a couple of you accompany me to the wretch’s chamber. I know it not,’’ added the lawyer to the two foremost domestics who volunteered to go with him; ‘‘ you must lead the way.” The three quitted the room accordingly. Adolphus re- mained, with some six or seven others, keeping guard upon Makepeace, while one of the footmen, who happened to be completely dressed, hastened off to procure the succour of the police. Until this moment Makepeace had remained upon his knees, for it must be comprehended that what it has taken us some time to relate in reality occupied but a few minutes in its dramatic action. The instant, however, the lawyer and those domestics had quitted the chamber, Makepeace rose up, and signalled his wish to have a few words with the young Earl of Lascelles. ‘““Whatsoever you have to say must be said aloud,’’ observed Adolphus, ‘‘in the presence of these witnesses,”’ and though he spoke with accents of stern severity, yet he inwardly trembled lest his past amour with Ethel should be revealed and her honour ruined beyond redemption. : “ Your lordship had better suffer me to speak to you in EOMINGIOOKS (CO)