The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER. VII AFTER THE MURDER SUDDENLY 4 wild and fearful light flamed up in the mind of Tim Meagles, showing him at a glance all the perils which, in a single moment as it were, had sprung into existence around him. He had followed Ramsey from London, he had watched him at the adjacent public-house, and he had dogged him to the field where the tragedy had just taken place. The corpse: of the murdered man would be discovered; and he (Meagles) would be pointed out by an overwhelming combina- tion of circumstantial evidence as the author of the crime. Roused from his stupor by these harrowing reflections which traversed his brain with the vividness and speed of lightning, Meagles darted in pursuit of Lady Desborough. She was just on the point of entering the shrubbery, when the sounds of those quick steps behind smote like a death-knell upon her ears, and she clung, panting with terror and trembling all over, to the gate of the enclosure. ‘“ Almighty God! what have you done, miserable woman? ”’ demanded Meagles, clutching her violently by the shoulder. The voice was familiar to the countess, and, turning around with a spasmodic start, she instantaneously recognized her deliverer of the other night. ‘Oh, Mr. Meagles, you will not betray me?” she cried, a gleam of hope appearing upon the countenance that an instant before was convulsed with indescribable terror. But before Meagles had time to utter a word in response to that appeal, a rustling amidst the evergreens of the shrubbery was heard, and the form of a man sprang forth. ‘‘ Ah, it is you, Francis! ’’ ejaculated the Countess of Des- borough, as the moonlight fell upon the features of her hus- band. 47 GOMIIGDOG <S) (S©)