The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE HOME OFFICE 69 ‘““T never was at a public political meeting in my life,’’ ejaculated Meagles. ‘“‘ Oh, very well, you’ve committed yourself now,” said the attorney-general, with a sardonic smile of triumph as he caught up the prisoner’s remark. ‘‘ You declare that you were never at a public political meeting, and the natural inference, of course, is that the meetings which you do attend are of a private character. Very good, Mr. Meagles; you stand confessed a member of secret societies. Take that down in the depositions, Mr. Prescott,’ added the attorney- general, speaking to the clerk. ‘By Heaven! I will not submit to this diabolical mis- interpretation! ’”? ejaculated Meagles, his countenance be- coming crimson with wrath, and every vein on his forehead swelling almost to bursting. ‘It is scandalous, perfectly fiendlike,’’ exclaimed Mel- moth. ‘“‘No Russian tyranny or Spanish inquisitorial despotism was ever worse.” ‘Silence, both of you, or you shall be removed immedi- ately,” cried the under-secretary, who had posted himself upon the rug in front of the fire. Tim Meagles threw a hasty look upon Melmoth, as much as to hint that they had better subdue their feelings as well as they could and let the witness proceed to the end, or else their removal from the room would deprive them of any little chance which they possessed of amending their own cause by shaking his testimony when the moment for cross-examining him should arrive. But that glance es- caped not the lynx-eyed attorney-general, who instan- taneously rendered it available to his own purposes. ‘“‘ Did you observe those looks of intelligence which passed between the prisoners?’ he demanded, addressing himself to the under-secretary and the chief magistrate; and, as they both nodded their heads affirmatively, the great legal functionary continued to exclaim, “‘ Every step that is taken in this investigation yields fresh proofs of the dangerous characters of these men. Not only do they belong to secret societies, by their own unguarded admissions, but they ~ actually carry their presumption so far as to communicate with each other by means of secret signs in our presence.”’ “Tis false, false as hell!’ ejaculated Melmoth, stamping his foot furiously upon the carpet. (Gi @) ANC 6)(0)©)