The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

294 THE COURT OF LONDON women lest the whole dwelling should be alarmed by the sounds. As for the footman himself, he took the entire proceeding with remarkable coolness and managed it in such a perfectly businesslike way that had he been a resur- rection-man he could not have exhibited a more complete indifference at the handling of a dead body. But although this cold and imperturbable disposition was the very one to enlist in such a matter, it was likewise that which was most to be dreaded afterward; and this idea struck like a pang to the brain of Mrs. Brace as she led the way with the candle in her hand. At length the bottom of the staircase was reached, and now the descent of the flight leading to the kitchen was begun. This was more difficult, because the steps were precipitate; but in a few minutes the task was accomplished, and the corpse was deposited upon the pavement of the back kitchen. A bottle of wine was now procured from the cellar, and, invigorated by the generous juice of the grape, Frederick resumed his labours. By means of a poker which was worn away almost to a point, he succeeded in raising one of the flagstones wherewith the back kitchen was paved; and the shovel which the dustman had left behind now became serviceable in digging out the earth. The young man toiled arduously, the perspiration streamed off him, and Mrs. Brace and Harriet, who watched him with profound interest, were both astonished at the progress which he made. From time to time he paused to rest and refresh himself with a glass of wine; and then, as if inspired by renewed fervour, he returned to his task with the resolute determination of a man working for a wager. And Frederick Dray’s thoughts were all the while as active as his arms. He knew that it only required one good chance in the life of a man to enable him to make his fortune; and such an opportunity had presented itself to him this night. The milliner was rich, and she was now completely in his power; for he had indeed penetrated as profoundly into the truth of the matter as she had feared and suspected. But he toiled hard to clear away all traces of her crime, because it was by no means consistent with his own interests that it should be brought to light. On the contrary, it was a secret which he was most anxious to surround with as CORNIClIOO© S (C(O) im