The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

224 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “TI will leave you this light for a minute, while I despatch some one to the house; and in the meantime, if you wish it, I will remain with you.” The constable acted as he had said. A message was des- patched to the mansion to Mr. Slater, and though this gentleman had retired to rest, yet on hearing what was re- quired of him, he immediately rose, hastily apparelled him- self, and accompanied the messenger to the station-house. There he was at once introduced to the murderer’s cell, and the constable, who in the meanwhile had remained with the criminal, asked whether he should retire, or whether he should still continue there. ‘‘ Leave us alone together,’’ said Makepeace, whose voice now sounded awfully hollow to the attorney’s ears. ‘One moment,” said the latter. ‘‘ From the nature of the message just delivered to me, I conclude, Makepeace, that you purpose to volunteer a full and complete confession of your crime, with all its details. Is it so?” ‘“‘ Tt is,’’ was the sepulchrally uttered response. “You must have a motive for making this confession,”’ continued Mr. Slater. “Is it that at length smitten with remorse, you seek to offer the last and only atonement — poor indeed though it be — which man in such circumstances can make? Or is it that there are some secrets fitted for my ear alone? ”’ ‘‘ There is no secret, sir,’’ replied the murderer, ‘‘ beyond that which relates to the circumstances of the dreadful deed itself.”’ , ‘Tn this case,’’ continued the lawyer, “‘ you will have no objection for the confession to be taken down in writing? ”’ ‘““None,’’? was the murderer’s reply, and his voice still sounded as hollow as an echo awakened in the deep gloom of some old cathedral crypt. ‘It were better,’’ proceeded the attorney, ‘‘ that your confession should be made to the ears of two persons. You are sincere in your desire to make a clear breast of it at once, and therefore you cannot object — ”’ “No, sir,” interrupted Makepeace, profoundly dejected, ‘“T leave myself in your hands. Though I have already avowed my guilt, yet until I shall have explained it in all its details, 1t seems to constitute a secret that sits upon my heart like a weight of lead.”’ ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)