The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

186 REYNOLDS’ WORKS him up. All his schemes appeared to be redounding with overwhelming violence against himself. The duke would take back his wife, and would restore his confidence to Bertram! Ruin and disgrace would remain as the portion for the guilty Clandon! Then it was that in the utter des- peration of his soul the horrible thought of assassinating his uncle flashed into his brain. It speedily settled and acquired consistency there; his purpose was fixed. But in order to play a part which should eventually avert or disarm sus- picion, he affected to be deeply anxious that the duchess should be found, and he offered a reward to any individual who should discover her retreat. He went out as if to search for the duchess, but it was in reality to look for his uncle. He however failed in falling in with the duke, and he re- turned to Oaklands. Shortly afterward his Grace reappeared, but Lord Clandon took good care not to throw himself in his uncle’s way. From his valet Travers he learned that the duke had gone out again. . This was past one in the morning, and Lord Clandon pre- tended that he should retire to rest, bidding Travers call him early, that he might get on horseback and renew the search after the duchess. When Travers had retired, Lord Clandon stole down from his chamber, and, provided with a pistol, and with a-dagger which he had taken from Ber- tram’s room, he sallied forth from the mansion. His search on this occasion was not a long one, for he met his uncle close by the pond in the by-lane. The duke was indignant on recognizing Clandon, and he turned away from him. The next moment the fatal blow was dealt; the murderer’s hand plunged the dagger deep down between his uncle’s shoulders. With a savage howl the duke’s dog Pluto sprang at the assassin, and Clandon instantaneously discharged his pistol. The faithful animal had caught the murderer by the skirt of his coat, and Clandon did not perceive that a piece had been torn off. The dog fell wounded, and the murderer rushed away. Regaining the mansion, he stole up to his own chamber, and tossed off his clothes, still unsuspecting, in the horrible confusion of his mind, that a fragment of his coat had remained in the dog’s mouth. Soon after six o’clock the servants of the household were again up, and on the portals being opened, the wounded Pluto dragged himself in. Lord Clandon, hearing the sounds CORNIELYOOLKKS (E()