The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VI THE PRIVATE APARTMENTS SINCE a very early hour in the morning had the public executioner been held a captive there, and it is probable that he would have already sunk into the stupor of exhaus- tion, through hunger and thirst and the fearful but unavail- ing struggles he had made to extricate himself, were it not that a terrible excitement kept all his vital energies in the fullest play. It is, however, impossible to conceive anything in the shape of a human countenance more hideous than his features now appeared to be. They seemed as if some goading anguish had fastened upon his very heart’s core. A fierce and unnatural light, vibrating and reptile-like, shone in his eyes, indicating the feverish rage of wild and diabolic passions; his cheeks, sallow in hue, were sunken and hollow; and all the lower part of his countenance, through being unshaven, had that dark appearance which added to the savage ferocity of his mien. His hat lay upon the carpet, his hair was matted together with the perspira- tion that had oozed forth in the desperate but vain efforts he had made to release himself, and altogether he presented to the view as hideous and revolting a spectacle as ever wore the human shape. He at once recognized the Marquis of Leveson and Lady Sackville. The latter he had frequently seen riding in her carriage, for be it remembered that although he had even been in her company once before, in this very same suite of rooms, —on the occasion when Sir Douglas Huntingdon had procured his attendance there, — yet Venetia had then her veil thickly folded over her face, so that the Hangman had recognized her not. But now, on this present occasion, she had no veil to conceal her features, her bonnet and shawl 50 Ccomiiclooolks (CO mn