The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

378 THR MYSTERIES Gory several strects, OF THE OOURT. until they reached a small low , and his squinting eye darted forth vivid lightnings, building consisting of two rooms, and which wasa}The Burker was actually terrified by his com- sort of charitable institution where wagfarers might rest themeelves and cook their rice without having anything to pay for the accommodation. There were several other Gossoons in this place, and to whom the J3urker’s companion was evi- dently well known. Thoy had plenty of rice and other provisions, which they liberally shared with the new-comers. When the meal was over, the Burker's friend borrowed a few copper coins of the other Gossoons; and he them beckoned the Englehman to accompany him. They went out together, and proceeded to a shop whero articles of cutlery were sold. Hero the Gossvon pufchased a couple of common rudely-constructed knives, the biades of which were fixed in the handles dagger- shaped; so that indeed they resembled oyster- knives. A picco of cork was stuck on each point ; and tho Guossvon, giving the Burker one, made a sign for him to eccure it about his person. He then led the way back to the khan, or public aé- commodation-house; and there some of the other Gossouns produced opium and strong epirits. The Burker partook of the latter, but refused the tormer: his companion however regaled on both: and after a winle the wkKole motley company stretched themselves to sleep on th8 benches in the inner rou. . When the Burker awoke in the morning, he found that himeclf and his companion were tho only two persons remaining in the place: tho others had all gone forth on thoir respective avoca- tions. No breakfast appeared to be forthcoming; and the Gussoon made a sign to the Burker to fol- low him. As they passed by a shop where comes- tibles were suld, the Gosasvon pointed to the provi- aions, then to his own mouth and to that of the Burker—as much as to imply that sane of that food should presently find its way into thoses avenucs tothe stomach. The Surker was cheered by this intimation ; and he followad the Gossvon, wondering to what proceedings he was about to address himself in order tu procure the means to purchase the inviting provender. Presently the Gossoon haltcd in a somewhat crowdéd thorough- fare; and placing his back against a dead wall, he made the BGurker stand by his side. (Then the Gussoon, taking forth hia knife, signalled fhe Burker to do tho same, but to draw off the cork tr6f the point. Tho Burker, watching the pro- ceedings ot his leader, hid the knife up his al€eve; and the Gossoon began to appeal to the chars‘y of the passers-by. At first it was in a whining tone of entreaty; then it was with howls and lamenta- tions ; and he kept nudging the Burkor to imitate him. This the Englishman did to the best of his endeavour; and several persons—nvu doubt struck hy the novelty of seeing an European in such a condition—stupped for a moment_to contemplate him. But his was countenance little caloulated to excite sympathy: the townspeople therefore only shook their heads dybiously, and passed om their way. Tha Gossoon, seeing how matters were going, bent a look of rage upon the Burker, as if to re- proseb bim for the failure-of their appeal to the public charity. Notling could exceed the vil- lanous expression of the dervish’s countenanco as his infuriate feelings thue convulsed his features ; panion’s aspect ; and he went on howling, yelling, and Jamenting more vociferously than ever. Still however the passers-by seemed incredulous in respect to the oleims of the Gosscon and the Burker upon theit eharit:; and thus about s couple of hours elapsed without # single coin being dropped inte the cgulstretehod hand of either. That period of the day was approaching when the streets would become deserted on ac. count of the intense sultrinesa of tue sun; and thus there appeared to be little chance, as matters now stood, for the Gossoon and the Burker to obtain the wherewith for the purchase of asbrcak- fast Yet the Gosaoon had a resource left: but it was evidently one to which he only thought fit to address himself ag a desperate alternative when the casier and more jegitimate means of mendicity failed. Ile had hia knife concealed in his sleeve : tho Burker likowise had his weapon hidden up his own arm; anfi the Gossoon made him a signa to drag it fotth. The Burker hesitated,—not under- standing the object which ‘the proceeding was to serve :ebut whefi he beheld tho dervish draw forth his own knife, he followed the example. Then the Goasoon went on howling, roaring, and yelling more terrifically than ever,—the Burker doing his best to play his own part in the appalling chorus. All of a sudden the (toss6on made him a sign to out himself With his knife; and tearing open his own siceve, he drew the blade, as if in perfeot frenzy, along hisurm. The Burker, by no means relishing the frantic examplo thus set him by the Gossoon, muttered sutoething in his special ver- nacular to the effect that he would see himeelf in the hottest place he could possibly think of before he would atick a knife into his own flesh. Quick ns lightning, however, the Gossoon tore up tho Burker’s sleeve, and stuck his knife into the fleshy part of the man’s arm. Tho Burher, roaring with the pain, was on the very point of inflictinf sum- mary chastisement on tho Gossoon by plunging the knife into bis heart,—when a quantity of ccins showered down upon them from the windows of the opposite houses. Sevoral of the passers-by, on seeing the blood of the two mendicants thus flowing, quickly bestowed their alms; and thus the Burkes’s rage was somewhat appeased. The ~money tifrown from the windows was speedily gathcrod up; and the Gossoon, beckoning the € Burker to fullow, hurried away. Ina few minhtes they stopped in a secluded place; and the Gossoon, producing a small pot of ointment, applied some of it to his own arm, and then to tho Burker’s, Having done this, he produced bandages hkewise; and having made the Burker twist one round his arm, he proceeded to perform fhe same good office for that individual, The Burker could not however help perceiving that whereas the Gossoon had inflicted upon himself a comparatively trifling scratch, he had dealt far less considerately when plunging his knife into the édarm of jis comrade. But as the Burker now felt no paiu since the application of the ointment, and as the bandage bad stanched the blogd, he suffered himeelf to be appeased by tho prospect of a good meal—for he was ravenously gry. h ‘ Gossoon led the way to that comestible e ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)