The commissioner: or, de Lunatico inquirendo / With twenty-eight illustrations on steel by Phiz [i.e. H.K. Browne] [Anon].

George Payne Rainsford James

Date:: 1843

Credit: The commissioner: or, de Lunatico inquirendo / With twenty-eight illustrations on steel by Phiz [i.e. H.K. Browne] [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$itand he pushed forward liis plate without waiting for the assistance of a servant. “ The ribs are best,” said Mr. Darius, helping him ; “ tlie ribs are deliciouslie added in a fee-faw-fum tone, which made all tlie blood in his companion’s body grow cold. Mr. Fitzurse drew the plate to him, cut off a piece M’ith a trembling hand, and raised it to his lips. But nature could bear no more ; he dropped the fork from his hand, and crying “ Ugh !” with a face as pale as death, started up from the table,_ and darted towards the drawing- room door. “ Why, Freddy, Avhat’s the matter ?” said the peer, while Jane rose to run to his assistance. “ I am sick at the stomach,” cried Mr. Fitzurse ; “ I caen’t stand it, —demm me if I can !” and he threw open the door into the other room. The farce was succeeded by a tragedy, however ; for the first thing he beheld before him, as the door Hew back under his hand, was the wild and furious face of poor Trollop, the madman. “ Ha, ha, ha!” shouted the maniac, as soon as he beheld him : “ I have caught you at last—I have caught you at last. Now Fll have your blood !” Mr. Fitzurse ran back into the dining-room ; but the madman, brandishing an iron bar of one of the doors which he held in his hand, darted after him, the company rising and scattering before him in dismay. It was at the bridegroom alone, however, that the maniac aimed. His eyes were fixed upon him with wild, unnatural fire flashing from them, and he had chased the deceiver of his child half round the table, when, at the very same moment, poor Jane cast herself before him and clasped his knees, Mr. F'itzurse stumbled over the misj)laced chair of Darius, and the arm of the madman descended, striking the head of the unfortunate fugitive with the iron bar that loaded it. There was a crash like that of a broken fence, the blood gushed from his mouth, ears, and nostrils, and down he fell prone upon his face, u ith his limbs quivering, and his feet beating the ground. A loud and piercing shriek came from the lips of the poor bride, and tighter still she clung to the knees of the maniac to prevent him from repeating the blow. At the same instant, Mr. Longshanks, Jerry Tripe, Mr. llotundity, and two of the footmen, cast themselves upon the madman, wrenched the bar from his hands, and held his limbs firmly in their grasp, while others sprang forward to raise ]\Ir. Fitzurse from the ground. “ Tie his arms with the napkins—tie his arms with the napkins,” cried Mr. Longshanks. “ And his legs too,” shouted one of the footmen, “ for he’s kicking me devilishly.” “ I have killed him—I have killed him !” cried the madman, with a loud laugh of exultation. “ That’s done, and I’m satisfied. I should like to have some of his blood—let me have some of his blood!” But they forcibly tied him hand and foot, and threw him down upon the ground, removing Jane in a fainting state, and placing her in an$