The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

THE MURDERER 221 must swing for it, or else— But no matter! My business with life is pretty nearly done, I must die, and that speedily too, but I will not perish unavenged. My lord, here, in the presence of your domestics — ”’ “Silence, villain!’’ ejaculated Adolphus, now fearfully excited, so that the servants gazed upon him in mingled wonder and suspicion. ‘‘ You cannot seal my lips,’ said Makepeace, “‘ and every- thing shall now come out. You know that you intrigued with your own mother-in-law! ”’ Adolphus staggered back, his countenance ghastly white, and the domestics present were naturally enough smitten with the conviction of their master’s guilt of the crime just imputed to him. ‘Yes, you were the lover of your own father’s wife,” continued Makepeace, “‘ and now every one may understand, if they did not comprehend it before, why the countess occupied a separate room so long, and that ground floor room too.” Adolphus groaned audibly; he could not possibly deny the accusation levelled against him. It was true that he might palliate it by proclaiming the secret of his birth, but this he dared not do. It would have been equivalent to the laying down of his titles and the abandonment of his riches all in an instant. The domestics were convinced of the truth of what Makepeace had just said, murderer though he were, for the ghastly looks, the quivering form, and the horrified appearance of the young ear! bore fullest corroboration of the tale. And then, too, the servants quickly called to mind countless little circumstances which had never before made any particular impression upon them, but which now all combined as damning evidence against their master. ‘““There! ’’ said Makepeace, as if in horrible exultation at the exposure he had made, “‘ it is all out now, and though I may die on the gallows, yet you, my lord, who have cheated me out of my ten thousand pounds, and your beautiful mother-in-law, who cheated me out of her favours, are hope- lessly ruined before the world.’’ At this instant the lawyer reappeared, followed by the two servants who had accompanied him, and one of whom carried a stone Jar, whence came the chinking sound of gold. ‘“It was in his room, carefully packed in his box,” ex- EOMINGIOOKS (CO)