The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

242 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. ‘‘Och, murder, the jealousy of some people, now only to think.” CHAPTER XLVI. AND now that Mabel was duly restored to those dear friends who had grieved so much for her absence, and who wouid have given all the world’s wealth to hold her again to their hearts, we will turn our attention to that villain who had caused so much mischief, but who now, in consequence of Rafferty's singu- lar adventure, was consigned to the durance he sorichly merited. Foiled and disappointed in all his hopes, one can well imagine the desperate state of feeling into which that man was thrown, now that, for the second time, the law had him in its grasp, aud he could entertain no hope of being so fortunate as again to escape its clutches. He was too well watched by the authori- ties to permit of such a thing occurring, and in the absence of all means of self-destruction, he was compelled to endure, as best he might, the load of vexation and despair that had come upon him. It was some days before the mendicant was in a state to be brought before a magistrate, for he refused at first to take any nourishment, and it was only when, at length, so pressed by hunger that his resolution gave way and he ate something, that it was considered expedient to make him undergo an examina- tion. In order as much as possible to spare the feelings of Mabel, and repress the rush of public curiosity, the proceedings were commenced at an early hour, and the desperate and wretched man was placed at the bar to be accused of divers crimes and misdemeanors. Mabel was there, for she had been brought by the captain and Henry, both of whom had taken great pains to prepare her, as well as possible, for the disagreeable hour or two that was to come. ‘You ought to remember, Mabel,” was the correct argument that Captain Morton used; ‘‘ you ought to remember that it is not in revenge for any personal wrongs of your own that you are supposed to appear against this man, but simply as a member of society, cognizant of an offense committed against the laws which bind that society together.” ‘*T understand that now,” she replied, ‘‘and will state all that I know concerning him, although I shajJl dread the task.” ‘‘And I,” said Henry, ‘“‘ wish it were in my power to state anvthing about him that would put a rope round his neck, the scoundrel! He has made me suffer more in anxiety than he can now be made to suffer.” ‘All I wish, Mr. Henry,” remarked Rafferty, ‘‘is that, if they don’t hang him, they’d let him go altogether; because in that case we would have a mighty good opportunity of catching him somewhere, and doing that piece of work for him.” Old Monsieur Rouselli was persuaded as much as possible, by Mabel and the captain, not to trouble bimself to come to the ex- comicbooks. com