The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

270 ——— * whe might have forgotten to take the latch-key. But when two or three minutes clapsed and Ben did not make his appearance, Mr. Bealby began to get uneasy lest inquiries were being made relative to the Burker. Ifo did not gago leavo his apartments to step out upon the janding to listen --much lese to steal dow# staira to see who it was —because Mary was runuing to and fro, preparing the breakfast: be knew her to be inquisitive, and he feared that she might be seigad with the incli- nation to draw aside the grpen baize and peep into the coffin-like box in order to see how the mummy looked when lying flat upon its back. Thus Bealby was kept in a state of anxioty for several minutes, until he a length recognised the fuotsteps and then the voice of Mr. Fossilton as ho ascended the stairs in company with the lgnd- aly. Ur. Bealby foresaw that he should have some difficulty in reapect to this visit: for Fossilton might ask to have another look at the mummy be- fore he concluded the bargain—or ha might insist upon taking it away with him; and by, wel] acquainted with his landlady's gerrulous diapoal- tion, was quite certain ehe had sfnoady acquainted him with the supposed fact that the munimy was in readiness for such immediate transport to its destination. However, Mr. Bealby hoped that the difficulty occasioned by Fossilton’s visit might be speedily surmounted by his own ready wit; and he therefore prepared himeelf for the emer- goucy. “Tam sure I did right to tell you to walk up, sir,” said the landlady, who since she had received her rent wag all civility, and was now prepared to make herself most officiously obliging. “Mr. Boalby will be quite charmed to see you. You will find the mummy already packed up——” “Woll, well, ma'am,” said Mr. Fossilton, “ you havo told me eo two or three times; and I have no doubt it is the case. How do you do, Mr. Boalby P”’, “How do you do, my dear sirf’ gried the younger arche@ologist. “Pray walk in, Your visit 13 an early one—I gm sorry ta ney T am ex- cessively busy just at thie moment-—— “Busy in getting your breakfast?” said Mr. Fossilton: “but that won’t preveat us from settling our little bargain. I ave brought the money—and I understand your friend has gone for the cart —— ” “‘ Here i¢ is!” exclaimed the officious landlady, rushing to the window, as she hoard the sounds of the vehicle stopping at her front door. “Ah! but I have a few other goods to remove first,” said Mr. Bealby; “and the mummy shall come next. You need not phy me now, Mr. Fos- alton: I will bring you up the mummy in the course of the day—a few hours indeed——”’ “‘ My dear sir,” interrupted the old archazologist, “I havo set my mind,upon Baving it st once: I have walked down from Tavistock Square at this early hour on purpose to see you. You ean let me have this cart—dnd your friend can hire another.” 7 eam do nothing of the sort,” said Mr. Bealby, who was gotting uncommonly anxious, though he dared not for the life of him betray me uneasiness, “3 must remove some goods rat~——" THE MYSTHRIES OF THE COURT. “Stop! there is another carti” ejacalated the landlady; “and it is a man which I know and which sells pertaties. Mary:” she shrieked forth from the landing to which she flew; “ stop taat pertatie person—and say I have got him a job |” * What the devil does all .this mean?” de- manded Ben Limber, as he now made his appear- ance. “I have hired a cart, and mado a capital bargain.” , e “ And now there are two,” eaid Mr. Fossilton: “therefore I may at once take my mummy home. Here, Mr. Bealby, is the amount agreed upon— twenty pounds:” and the old arch@ologist, pro- ducing his pocket-book, drew forth the bank-notes from amidst a profusion of documents, all relating to his favourite science—especially a copy of a speech of seven houra’ duration which he delivered at the last meoting of the British Assuciation for the Advancement of Science. Ben Jimber now understood it all; and he per- ceived in what an awkward dilemma his friend Bealby appeared to be placed. But Mr. Bealby had by this time made up his mind how to act ; and he cherefore said with great coolness, “ Well, Mr. Fossilton, since you are in such a hurry to hapome possessed of the mummy, we will conclude the bargain atonce. Here it is :”—and he opened the trunk to which it Ifad been consigned on being taken from the glass case." “ Well, dear me!” exclaimed the landlady, “I thought it was in that package which was already done up to be removed.” “YT wish, ma’am,” said Beulby, “ you would have the goodness ta leave me to manage my own business.” “Oh! well, sir, 1'~ sure I don’t want to inter- fore," said the landlady, tossing her head indig- nantly. “I waa only helping to the best of my ability: but I hope ] may never speak another word if you didn’t say just now—or leastways give us all to underatand, that the big package yoa- der———""___ “There’a sometiing strange in all this” said Mr. Fossiltomn “Are you sure it’s the same raumtoy you are now selling me,—the same that used to stand in the glase caso——”’ “ Look you, Mr. Fossilton,” interrupted Bealby ; “a fow words will explain it all. I have got some articles of a delicate and peculiar kind which I have sold to a gentleman ; and | have packed them up in the glass case. For that reason I put the mummy into the trunk. Your profound know- ledge will show you that it is the same mummy. Here it is, with its wrappers—I forget how many years old you pronounced it to be.” “Well, well,” said the old gentleman, who in the’ meantime had been carefully examining the mummy through his green glasses: “ it certainly does seem the same—it is no doubt all right. And now let it be conveyed in that trunk down to the cart.” “ Here, ma’am,” said Bealby, thus hastily whis- pering to his landlady, “just give the potato person, as you called hiw, a little drop of gin to drink, as it was very civil on his part to stop when Mary called him :”--and he thrust a shilling into the woman’s Ghe eped away to give eue drop of giv to tho potatos person, and bestow half a doses upon her- self: a cord was put round the trunk ; and Limber, @ Cee ee ee eee pe ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)