it was truly to one , who might look upon it as a reality and no juggle , a frightful sight to see , and although marchdale , of course , tolerably well preserved his equanimity , only now and then , for appearance sake , affecting to be wonderfully shocked , poor tom eccles was in such a state of horror and fright that he could not , if he would , have flown from the spot , so fascinated was he by the horrible spectacle .