The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

228 THE COURT OF LONDON behind the marchioness; but the attorney’s clerk stood forward to contemplate the process of lifting the huge mass of granite. Having dwelt all his life in London, and having spent the greater portion of that life behind a desk, he now felt just like a bird escaped from its cage; and while the emerald scenery of the country was most grateful to his eye, every trifling incident which he encountered in his travels became a matter of interest with him. Thus was it that like a prying and curious schoolboy, he now stood gazing on the operation that was in progress; and when the stone was raised a few inches from the mouth of the buttress, he. bent down to carry his scrutiny to every feature and detail of the masonry and the mason’s proceedings. ‘‘ How high shall we raise it, sir?’ asked young Brooks of the steward. | ‘“‘ About a couple of feet, or perhaps a little more,’”’ was the response. ‘“‘ The jar containing the coins is a high one.” Silence then ensued once more, broken only by the creak- ing of the winch-rope and the grinding sound of the roller around which it was slowly, slowly winding. In about ten minutes the stone was raised more than two feet from the mouth of the buttress, and the steward desired the masons to desist from winding any more. “What a putrid odour there is,” said the lawyer’s clerk, retreating a few paces from the buttress and sniffing with the diagreeable sensation. _ So there is,’’ observed one of the masons. i Depend upon it there’s stagnant water inside the but- tress,’ said the steward; “ and if so, the foundation of the bridge can’t be right. You must look to it before her lady- ship commences the ceremony.” “ Here! I will soon see what’s the matter,’’ exclaimed young Brooks; and, dropping down upon his hands and knees he protruded his head beneath the overhanging stone so as to look down into the hollow of the buttress. “ Well, what isit?’’ demanded the overseer of the ma- sons. “The smell is bad enough, but I cannot see anything shining like water. And yet — there is something, but it is dark, and all huddled up— My God! yes — it is — it is— the corpse of a man! ”’ _ And as these ejaculations, vented in horror, struck thrill- CORNIE OOO KS ee)