The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAIDEN’S BRIDGE 241 steward for his conduct on the occasion, inasmuch as his motives were purely good. ‘‘T happened, miss, to be the first to discover the tragic event,” he replied. ‘‘ I had some business to transact with Farmer Johnson at his house yonder, — you see it near that windmill, miss, — and I was returning on horseback by the side of the dell. From a height overlooking that abyss I perceived an object that at once struck me as sinister. I sprang from my horse, fastened the bridle to a tree, and descended into the dell. As I with some difficulty crept down the almost precipitous height, I discovered with horror and consternation what the object was, or, rather, I should say what the objects were which had attracted my notice. There, in a shallow part of the stream, their farther progress stopped by stones, or fragments of the height which had fallen down, lay the young earl and the countess. The arms of her ladyship were clasped tightly around his neck; the hands were joined by the interwining fingers: aS firmly as if they were an iron vise.’ “Good heavens! ’”’ exclaimed Isabella, with a feeling of horror and affright, ‘“‘ what could it have meant? Was it really a double suicide, after all? — for a rumour, you know, to that effect prevailed at the time, until the coroner’s inquest set it at rest.”’ ‘“Tt must have been a double suicide, miss,’’ answered the steward, “‘ for how else can we account for the fact which I am relating? ”’ ‘“‘ But suppose,” suggested Isabella, ‘‘ that the countess might have first accidentally fallen into the stream, the earl may have precipitated himself into the water to save her; she in her desperation may have clung to him in the manner in which you found them, and thus they both met with their death.”’ ““It may have been so, miss,” responded the steward, “and I sincerely hope it was, for the sake of their souls’ repose. It would be better to be enabled to imagine that it was all an accident, rather than wilful self-destruction. At all events, it is certain that it took place from the bridge, which you will presently see.”’ ‘“* And how was that certainty acquired? ” asked Isabella. ‘“ Because the countess’s kerchief was afterward found in the middle of the bridge, and a piece of her dress was fluttering to GOMIIGDOG SS) (SO)