They raised him—they bore him into the hall; but the moment the light of the lamps fell upon him, they perceived that all human aid was unavailing.
His skull was literally beaten in, and his hair was covered with his blood and brains!
Thus did he meet the fate which he had all along intended for his infant nephew.
Terrible suicide—but just retribution!
Half an hour after this dread event a travelling carriage rolled rapidly away from Ravensworth Hall.
In it were seated Adeline, with her child upon her lap, her lady's-maid, and the nurse.
The faithful Quentin, who had been induced by the persuasion of Eliza Sydney to remain in the service of Lady Ravensworth, occupied the dickey behind the vehicle.
Adeline was now on her way to Dover, whence she purposed to pass to the continent; her intention being, in pursuance of the advice of Eliza, to seek some retired spot in the south of France, where she might at least find tranquillity and repose, if not happiness, after the rude storms to which she had lately been so fearfully exposed.
Not that this self-expatriation was compulsory on account of Lady Ravensworth's one dread crime: it was nevertheless the project to which we have before alluded, and by which means Eliza had planned that Adeline should escape from the consequences of any revelation that might be made by the Resurrection Man in respect to the murdered Lydia Hutchinson.