The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

taal —_ Ob a ee ot ES ES a et a aE: seater, Gn ee ee ee ee ee ee ees ee eee ee eee = commana taiigmnt: Pe eee Eee a74 Gaara ge hivuself he was about to enjoy, Thus, slowly and jingo, L'il du for you!—I'll couk your gouse in 4 _ jiffey [” ' Thus speaking, he at the samo instant snatched gradually did he prosecute his work, 1n a methodical raauner, until the last fuld of the wrapper was cut through, and the whole of the baize fell away from tho jid of the box! ‘ “Dear mo!” ejaculated Mr. Foesilton: and he peered in mingled astomshment and dismay over the object whioh now met lis view. “‘Lhis is very strange !—very strauge indeed! Why—bhow—what | eh P” It certainly did not look likoa mummy. Tho dress was white; there was a sort of turban on the head—the complexion of the individual was quite datk —there was a moustache upon the lip. Surely this was no mummy? And yet what else could it THF MYSTRRIES OF THE COURT. @ Eee | up au old rusty sword which lay upuna shelf close ‘at hand, and which was supposed to have been the ane wielded by Edward the Iirst at the LBattlo of Falkir&é :—or at least, such was the assurance givon some time ago by Mr. Bealby when he sold tho curious weapon to its predent owner. “What would you do, unhappy man?” asked | Woasilton, trembling with mingled alarm and ‘horror. “ You would not murder me? No—no — you—you—you—would not mur—ur—ur—der me P”” | “No, not af you keep quiot !” responded the be? Tho oyelids were closed:—motionless as the! Burker. “I’m as innoceht as a young lambkia doad lay the Burker! , Mr. Fossilton stooped lower down, and looked closer and closer into the case—or rather, we should say, through tho glass lid. If this were a muinmy it was the most extraordinary one, as well as the freshest, he had ever seen. Tad Bealby de- ceived him? No: this wil scarcely possible ; be- cause he had given him back his money—he had left himself at his mercy in respect to payment— everything scemed quito honourable, straightfor- ward, and proper on that individual’s part. Ali ! a sudden thought struck Mr. Fossiiton. Mr. Boalby had prepared for him a great surprise ! How kind of Bealby!—how good of him! Doubt- less it was some wondrous novolty in the sphere of what we may term Mummyism, which through the ayency of that samo excellent Mr. Bealby had now fullen into bis hands! Enraptured with the thoucht, Mr. Fossilton opened the glass case, and was in the act of stretching forward his hand to touch tho countenance of the supposed mummy,— when the Burker suddenly opened his eyes and | raise’ himself up to a sitting posture ! It was not exactly terrdr which seized upon Mr. Fosailton: it was a goneral stupefaction—a para- lysis of ¢ha eensos, which, without absolutely do- | priving him of hie consciousnoss, made him sink down upon a seat and gagze through his greon spectacles, as well as oprn-modthed, upon this ox- traordinary proceeding. * Don’t be afeard, vld genelman: I ain’t agoing to eat you,” sail the Burker, as he‘how endea- the caso: but the task was a diflicult one, his limbs being horribly cramped. this heré ain’t pleasant—cuses it!” Mr. Fossilton groaned—but did not move one hair'a-breadth more than if he had been a veritable statue, or one of his own petrifactiuns placed in that chair. “ Woll, ’m aniggered if this*ain’t a pretty job!” blow me, it beats the gallowa—beats it hollow!” terrifying effect of a complete and utter revulsion of feclings, sprang from his seat and darted towards the door, The sente of sudden and frightful danger to whi thus became exposed, acted like gal- vanigu the Burker; and rushing after tho srobweotoglat, he grasped him violently by the arm. “ Hold your tongue |—don’t ory out—don’t say a siagle word !”. growled the Burker: “or By voured to rise up completely fro& the interior of which skips in the fields when folks let mo ajone.® ‘*But who are you? what does all this mean ?” asked the bewildered Fossilton. “ You are dressed like a Lascar—but you speak English—if not ex- actly with the purity of Bunyan’s style, at all events with a certain facility ——" “ Lea¥o Corn and Bunion to theirselves,” said the Burker : “and now just listen to me. Thero! you'd better sit down again, sir—you're all over iu a tremble and quiver—and shivery shakey liko-- come, sit down, I say—d’ye hear? It’s no use your keeping near this door.” “Well, well—what do you wantP who aro you? and what does all this mean ?” inquired the archa- ologist, whuse mingled bowilderment, terror and dismay defy all power of description. “ Now there's no use in shufling about with the question,” said the miscreant: and planting him- self opposite the miserable archesvlogist, who had avain sank down into a chair, he added in a cool tell of ono Mr. Barnes, better knowd as tho ker ?’ ; “ Good heavens! the murderer P” ejaculltet Foasilton faintl.>. 4 “ Well—you may call him ¢haé if you like,” proceeded the fuffian: “bat here he stands in his own precious identity afore you. Not anuther word, old genelman!—dare to cry out, and [ split your head open! There now ! be quiot, like (a good old man—and no harm will happen. [’m going to take my leave of you in a few minutus ; aud [ don’t think the parting will be worry dis. Bur. ¢ “Well, l'un blowed if | tressing for either of us.” Mr. Fossilton looked as if he éntertainod pro- cisely the same view, and as if the speehor the ;separation took place, the better he shuuld be | pleased. “Now you see, my fine old feller,” continued Barnes, “ it won’t do for you to say a single word continued the Burker, growling savagely: “to | about this here business: ’cos why, if you gives get one’s legs as palsied as if they was frozen— | infurmation, and if I’m took on account of it, I shall werry coolly say that you was in the trick Here Mr. Fossilton,¢abrupfly seized with the | with Bealby to get me out of my trouble, but that ' you grtenwards turned rotiad upon me, ‘cos why I | didn’t come up to the mark inthecash deparément.” “Good heavens! What a distressing position for a man like me to be placed in!” moaned the mise- rable archaoclogist, giting way to his lamentations. “ Misegable position { misorable, miserable |” “Nota bit on’t!” replidd the Burker. °“ All ou’ve got to do is to hold your tongue—and no- ody w l be the wiser.” C independent manner, “I suppose you've hoerd . SS (CO) LOAO©