The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

228 REYNOLDS’ WORKS which I passed, while carrying a light in my hand, startled and terrified me. Twice I turned to convey the knife down- stairs again and abandon my purpose, but the Tempter was again at my elbow, his words were whispered in my ears, and his huge palm, spread out, seemed to display before my eyes the whole mass of bright, shining gold. I ascended. Noiselessly the door of the dressing-room swung upon its hinges, and I entered. The earl never slept with a night- light in his room; he used to say that it kept him awake. I was afraid to take my candle into the chamber, for fear lest the light, flashing upon his lordship’s eyes, should startle and arouse him. I therefore left it in the dressing-room. Listen- ing at the door of communication between that room and the chamber, I could tell by his measured breathing that he slept profoundly. I entered the chamber, and was com- pelled to let the door close behind me, for it was made thus to swing of itself on its hinges. There was only the faintest glimmer of the moonlight in the room. With naked feet I approached the bed; the surrounding draperies completely concealed the poor old nobleman’s form, but I hastily felt with one hand to ascertain the exact position in which he lay. The other hand — the one which grasped the murderous weapon — just touched his throat; he moved, — but the next instant all was over! ”’ Again did the lawyer and constable shudder; again, too, did Makepeace shudder likewise, and again were his eyes turned upon his two horrified listeners with an awful hol- lowness of gaze. ‘“‘ T have but very little more to say,”’ he continued. ‘‘ The jar of gold, for which I had thus committed the fearful crime, came into my possession, but not another article in that room did I take away with me. I stole down-stairs, and having well cleansed the knife with which the deed was committed, placed it on some dish which remained upon the supper-table in the servants’ hall, taking care to bury the blade in the gravy, so that its recent frightful use for another purpose could not possibly be detected. I then stole out of the house, and interred my treasure in the garden. But at the bottom of the same hole I buried likewise my shirt, which was stained with blood. I regained my own room, confident that every precaution had been taken to prevent the author. ship of the crime from being brought home to me. And CORNICLIOO KS (E(0)