The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

REVELATIONS OF THE MONSTER-MAN 253 ‘‘ Next morning the whole district was in a state of excite- | ment as tremendous as if the mutilated dead themselves had traversed the streets in their grave-clothes. The infec- tion of a panic terror spread over the entire neighbourhood; men shook their heads and talked of vampires; old women spoke of ghouls and human jackals. I concealed my joy beneath a composed countenance; but in my heart I was mad, frenzied, frantic with the bliss of triumph. But as I was preparing for my fourth exploit in another quarter of the metropolis, strange and awful rumours met my ears, — how the graveyards were to be watched with bloodhounds, how man-traps and spring-guns were to be planted, and how all possible means were to be adopted to protect the dead and discover the desecrator of their earthy homes. I was struck with consternation, my courage vanished, my ferocity re- ceived a sudden check, and all my infuriate valour became deadened into a grovelling cowardice. Society was destined, then, to have a respite. Yes, and like a troubled spirit did I wander about at night, remaining all day in some obscure den, where I used to fall into a numbness of feeling and a stupefaction of the senses that made those around me think I had become a moping idiot. But this dulness soon passed, the fearful instinct revived once more, and notwithstanding the struggle which I made to combat against the whelming tide of abhorrent impulses, I felt that all my efforts would be in vain.” The monster-man paused in his dreadful recital, and Meagles proffered him wine. He drank it with avidity, his eyes flamed up with brighter fires, a glow appeared upon his cheeks, and unsolicited he resumed his tale of horror. ‘“‘ After the lapse of some days, I grew so restless that I was compelled to go out in the broad daylight, for I found it impossible to remain indoors. I passed by a churchyard, and, behold! a sudden curiosity prompted me to enter it. I need scarcely observe that I had not carried my spade about with me since the last time I had used it; and therefore my appearance was that of a rough, weather-beaten sailor. I did not wish to enter that churchyard, but an insuperable power urged me on. I was obeying some spell more potent than my own inclinations, some supernatural influence which had more of the demon in its nature than I had of the angel in my heart. I entered therefore that cemetery, but scarcely CONMUC Doo “S (GO)