The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 301: what you’re looking at

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

284 REYNOLDS’ WORKS had been used by the murderer’s hand. The tragedy created an immense sensation out-of-doors; the mystery in which it was enveloped struck with awe the myriad readers of news- papers. Everything appeared to be out of the ordinary course in reference to this foul crime, for not even did the whisper of scandal suggest a single name as that of the prob- able author of the deed. Conjecture itself was stupefied, — surmise was prostrate. It appeared to be one of those deeds which, terrible in their mystery and inscrutable in their motive, now and then occur upon the theatre of the world as if to prove that things may take place on earth defying the power of man to fathom, and which are to remain entombed in darkness until the finger of Heaven for its own wise pur- poses shall draw aside the veil and bring all to light. Throughout the day when the murder was discovered and the two following ones, the Countess of Lascelles kept her chamber, — a physician being in almost constant attendance upon her, as she was in a state of fever, and frequently hysterical. The Earl of Lascelles—as we must now denominate Adolphus, for he refused not to adopt the rank to which the world believed him entitled, and which there seemed nobody to dispute — kept his own room for the ereater portion of the first day, but on the second he attended at the inquest, and afterward he assumed the position of head of the establishment. But he appeared deeply to feel the terrific tragedy which had taken place; his countenance bore every indication of profound sorrow, his step was languid and slow, his voice was mournful and subdued; he appeared as if he were merely exerting a little energy for duty’s sake, but that it cost him the most painful efforts to do so. As for poor Isabella, she continued seriously in- disposed, and we may as well here remark at once that it was not until after the funeral of her deceased uncle that she crossed the threshold of her own apartment. But it was before that funeral took place — and on the fourth day following the night. of the mysterious murder — that Adolphus and Ethel met for the first time since the moment when, on the morning of the foul deed’s discovery, they had rushed from their respective chambers to the scene of the crime to ascertain whether the frightful intelligence which had reached them was indeed true. It was in the drawing-room that they now met on this fourth day, as CONNIE IOO KS (E(0)