The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

qed THE WYETREES Oy TH COUNT. | hadn't gived a boy & couple of tape on the Bead to make him surrender & wedge of bread’ and chéese be was ‘a:breakfusting on as he went to his work,” Mre. Stnedley procecded tothe larder—whence she p returned with qnick] soene, cold beef, tread, end pickles; and the Burker, falling to, sport made a mea] that would have sufficed for half-a- losen ordinary appetites. Another tumbler was produced; and Mrs. Smediey joiued him ia the drinking department. Pit where’s Jack P” he inquired in the midst repast. “ Jack’s at Liverpool,” rejoined Mrs. Smodiey: and she explained the object of his mission, not forgetting to add her knowledge of its success, 60 far as that the phial of poison was conveyed to her mother’s hand. “Well I'm blowed,” eaid the Burker, “if Jack hasn’t hisself to be a feller Of more pluck than I'd have gived him credit for. But why is he staying at Liverpool ”’ * He thought it best to make a show of linger- ing there a bit, so that he might see the chaplain and a justice-of:the-peace or two, and snivel and whimper and play the hypocrite——-” “Ah!” interrupted the Barker, with a'look of approval and envy, “Jack can come it strong in thet there line. Well?” “ Because, don't you see,” continued Bab, * if he had bolted off immediately after that interview with his motber-in.faw, it might have been sus- that he gave her the poison: whereas by ataying there for two or three days, and going and talking to the authorities—pretending that he was overwhelmed with grief—that he didn’t know what to think, whether she had really committed the crime, or whether she was the innocent victim of circumetantial evidence———” “Ab, that’s the ticket!” ejaculated the Burker, with his mouth full of beef and bread: “ nothing like coming the artful dodge--—-And who can do it better than my friend Jack Smedley?" “And so, you see, Jack is stopping at Liver- pool,” continued Bab. “ What the deuce makes that there black cat of your’n stare so uncommon herd?” suddenly de- mauded the Burker. Tha woman started: for the question which her companion had just put, all in a moment riveted the conviction tt it had not ere now basn mere fancy on her part. But unwilling to confess her fears to herself ~still less to reveal them to the Burker—Bab Smedley inetantaneously composed her countenance; and in a voice of assumed quiet, she said, “There's nothing wrong with the eat: she often looks like that,” “ Then, if it wae my cat, I’d pison i¢—that’s what I’d do!” rejuined the Burker. “But how is things going on in London? I suppose you heerd tell of my escape-——” 7 “Tread it in the newspapers,” angwered the woman. “As for things in London, wo've allowed the Scotts a pound a week—that’s ane thing: and ZT rather fancy this house is watched by the de- tectives~that’s another thing.” “The deuce!’ growled the Barker. “Bat I ony, " Bab———"” « ‘ Bearoely were the wirda spoken, when « knock wie heard at the front dogr—« somewhat com- e ns ne f ®@ ay maniding kind of summons, and which made both Bab Smedley and the Burker spring up to thelr “There's slmething wrong,” hastily whispered. tie former = T knew thar Hy “ Pil get out byt » hastily responded the ‘Burker * Bud fo 1” he instantancously efecu- lated © if there's @ plant meant, there'll be people watching at the beck. Come quick! I'll go down the trap—and you can pretend you was asleep and didn’t hear the knocking at the door. rn etall “em off somehow or another, "Yes, yoo=-ii's the only chars!” As the reader may suppose this ty tock place in'very hurried whitpers, end vce far time ‘than we have taken tn deevctbing th Away from the parlour ‘they glided~—Bab shading the light which she carried.in her hand: down into the soullery they went—the table was moved away—the bit of urge aleo—the teap-door was raised—aad into ean went the Burker. Then almost ii the twinkling of av eye . Bab Smedley restored the Hiale place to its former appeatanee; she put three or eaucepans ad articles of crockery, and other kitchen implements tpon the table, to give it an air as if i¢ had not been recently moved; and she sped up-stairh. Meanwhile the kuScking had been repeated in ¢ louder and more imperious manner than before : yet all that we have described sings the first sum- mons echoed through the house, tad sot taken more than three minates. The Boar ‘that all her rely mind was now a y necewsary—or af apprehend. ing some emergency which would require this dis- play of her conragé—Bab Smedley smodthed her countenance; and with a light in her hand, sie proceeded to open the front door. A tall stout man at once en the passage, followed by ane other individual, a glance at whom showed Mrs, Smedley that it was the applicant dor the vacant lodging of a few days previous. She kept her countenance admirably: and said, “Good evening, gentlemen. I suppose you've come to eso My. Smedley ot business: but he’s not at home.” “Not at home, ch?” exclaimed the tall stout tran, “Are you sure?” and he looked the weman very hard in the face. “Quite sure,” she replied with the eoolest effrontery—which indeed was al] the more natural inasmuch as at the instant she was telling the trath. “ He's at Liverpool, eir; and if you want anything in the goldbeating way-——" . "Shut the door, Tom,” interropted the tall man, turning round abruptly to his compazion. “Ber pardon, ma’am,” he continued, coolly walk- {ug into the ‘parlour, whither Mrs. &§ fol. lowed with the lyht; “but this is no time for ceremony. We're offlcers-and wé waat your « Officers!”~-and Mrs, Smediey affected to give a sliriek of dismay, as if quite un for the intelligence that thue burst upon “ Want iny husband-—~—"* “Yes—and I’m thinking we're likely to fad him too,” promptly rejoined the offiver, as he glanced at ‘the table. “A Inte supper, evidently up in a hurry-—no tablecloth, ner nothing Gidy--and two tumblers! Oome, ma'am, it's no 3 Be EO NOG SS (CO)