The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

302 REYNOLDS’ WORKS repose which precedes total slumber, the image of the Strangler kept rising into his mind, so that every now and then he was startled into complete wakefulness, and then, with the cold perspiration upon his brow, he listened with suspended breath. Sometimes he almost fancied that he heard some one moving about in the vicinage of the cavern, or that his barricade of stones was being disturbed. Once or twice he imagined that he heard some one breathing quite near him inside the cave, and it was a long time before he could satisfy himself that all this was mere fancy. At length he fell into a profound slumber. He knew not how long it lasted, but he was wakened up with the horribly oppressing conviction of some imminent peril. Again he listened with suspended breath, and grad- ually upon his ear came the sound of a stone being removed from the mouth of the cavern. Still he listened, his blood curdling in his veins. Yes, that sound was continued. Slowly and slowly was one of the granite blocks of his barrier being removed from its setting. By the glimmering light which prevailed outside, he could discern the gradual disappearance of the stone from the uppermost layer. He now knew that an enemy was at work, and what foe could this be unless the one of whose stealthy proceedings he had already received such proof? How should he act? Many minutes elapsed before, in the horror of his feelings, he could make up his mind. At length he decided upon the course to be pursued. Taking it for granted it was the Strangler, he resolved to allow him to continue his work, and then ascertain in what manner his insidiously hostile demonstration was to be made. Perhaps he intended to form a sufficient aperture to intro- duce his person into the cavern, under the impression that the Burker slept; and if this were the case, the Englishman knew that he should be enabled to seize his enemy at a disadvantage and grapple with him successfully. He therefore pretended to sleep, while in reality continuing to keep a keen watch, and one after another he beheld four or five stones removed from their setting. He was ready at any instant to spring up and seize upon any form that might seek to introduce itself through the aperture. And sure enough, this was the intention of his enemy, for presently the aperture was completely darkened, and the form began GOmicsooks (E(0)