The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 326: what you’re looking at

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

292 THE COURT OF LONDON frighten me; nor yet cry out, because you'll alarm the house. But the truth is,’’ continued the abigail, her tone suddenly becoming serious and her manner solemn, ‘‘ a man has died | of apoplexy in Mrs. Brace’s bedroom, and the corpse must be disposed of this very night.” ‘No! Is this possible, Harriet? ’’ were the ejaculations which burst from the lips of the astounded Frederick Dray; but instantly perceiving how tremendous was the hold which the knowledge of such a secret gave him over Mrs. Brace, he hastened to observe, ‘‘ My dear Harriet, I am ready to devote myself, body and soul, for our poor mis’sus — who promises five hundred and fifty guineas — ”’ “We must not waste time in chattering here, Fred,’ exclaimed the abigail. ‘‘ Indeed, I have already been more than a quarter of an hour absent, and I promised to return in five minutes. So follow me in silence.” The footman started with alacrity to his feet; and Harriet led the way cautiously back to Mrs. Brace’s bedchamber, into which she introduced her companion, closing the door with the utmost care. The milliner, who had grown nervously impatient despite of the exhilarating influence of the brandy, was much pleased when she beheld the reappearance of her faithful abigail in company with the footman. Harriet, who knew her mis- tress well, immediately perceived that she had been seeking artificial courage in the bottle; but Frederick Dray was not a little astonished to observe that the milliner wore so cheerful a countenance under such horrifying and embar- rassing circumstances. However, there was little leisure for making observations with the eyes and none for expressing irrelevant ones with the lips; for Harriet hastened to inform her mistress that she had acquainted Frederick with what had happened, and that he was willing and ready to lend all the assistance in his power. Mrs. Brace thereupon opened the door of the bathroom, and, taking the light in her hand, entered that place where the corpse of Peter Grumley was lying. A cold tremor passed over Harriet’s frame, and she averted her eyes shudderingly as Frederick Dray calmly and deliber- ately proceeded to remove the cloth which the milliner had thrown over the face of the dead body. _“ Why, it’s the Bow Street officer, I declare!’ exclaimed (C(O) LG 6)(0)©) (GO)