The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

® | ” eonspiresy alond to the world; for the not believe of Marobmont of her : or at gil evente it not be done by words from your lips. Yet you myst remain jn your present sination— janst keep 9 strict watch, upon al) the Duke of aychinont's procecdings———yer, git of them. Wou must not hesitato—vwjth falseo compuactions or over-nive scruples—to listen, when opportunity serves, £0 conveesations between the Duke and his villanous aocomplice Stanhope. Everything that comes to your knowledge, roust you report to me; apd in me ehall you find a faithtul adviser ga well x gs p sincera friend. Henceforth you will regard me asguch; and you must never hesitate to seck | my abode, no mattey bow often or at what hour. You possess feelings, Christien Ashton, which do you honour; and I experience a lively intercst in your welfare. You need have no gare for the future: for when the time shall come that you must leave a service which is evidently distasteful ‘ta you, it shall he my care and my pleasure to procure you apother and a better situation, Faro- well for the present.” With these worde Mr. Redcliffe grasped Opris- tian’s hand cordially; and they separated. The youth felt infinitely relieved at paving made # ogn- Gdant of one in whom he had also found a friend; and he proceeded with a much Jighter heart to- wards the Regent's Park. He saw bie sister; anil efectionate was the embrace in whieh the twins held each other. Chinstian mentioned the circuw- etance of his ba yg already aware that Lord Octusian and Mr. Percival were one and the same person; and Chpistina frankly told bim alf the conversation which bad taken place between herself and his lordslup on the preceding day,—thus descembing the mofives wlich bad jaduced her to goneral from Zoe the fact that she was previously gequainted with | Octeviay. Christian tujly apprecuated thoes mo tives, and expressed big belief that bis sister had acted as she wes bound to do under the circum- stances. Christina then retnarked that the Duke of Marchmont had called on the preceding day, — adding, “ He seems a very nice noblemen, and spoke in kind terms of you.” Christian had already made up his mind not to reyea) to his sister those circumstances of which he bad been speaking to Mr. Redeliffe: for ho knew efull woll that Christina would only be afflicted at the thought of her brother being compelled to rey main in a position whjch was distastefyl tv him. [oat abservation of her’s, so artlessly eulogistic of the Juke, would have thrown Christian ito gonsidarablo gimbarrassment, bad not “ne at) p the moment°entored the room where this inter. view was taking place; and she welvomed the outh fa the hogse in the most cordial manner. He veiked out with bis sister for an hour or two in the Regent’s Park, aud then returned to Bol rete Pquare. * TRF MVSUERIEN OF TRB COURT. JOR ; | mixed, while the convertion commenced. (+ er. 4 Fy 11g . OMAPTER EXIF, ° THY CRIME. ye In was bapween nine and tep o'slock in . ing of thes day of which we have beoo writing i the preceding chapter, that three persond wera ade vanoing it three different directions towards the goldbeater’s house in the midst of that mase of buildings lying between the lower of the Waterloo and Westminster Roads. o of those indivjduale wea y the Burker—the sacond was Bill Beott—the third was hip brother Tim. The two lads hed beon informed by Barnes that if they jcined him at the Smedleys’, they would pro- bably be able to render pome jittle gagistance in a ticular business which was then in hand: but yond these few words the Burker gave no epevial explanations. The night was dark and cold,—not with the fixe froaty wes$her which properly belonged to that December gepson of the year-—byt with « raw mistiness that damped the garments and colleated on the pair and whiskers. I¢ was an evening when those who were well clad would wrap their upper conts of ther shawla, as the qese might bo, more clowel¥ afound them—and when the ecantily ap pod the ragged children of poverty would hurry on with q¢ cuntinuous shivering of the frame which no acceleration of speed could how- ever mitigate, Even the very baked-potato man would shudder visibly as he bawled gut © Alt bug !” in a luster vuree than usual; and there wae no need fur nukad-fugted mendicants to affect 9 quiver. ing nieery of the furm as they huddled up ia door-ways or bung upon the track of pagaers-by, imploring lms; for the reality of their balf- perished state wae keen enough. The strect- lamps appeared to burn mistily: and the jets of gas at the butchers’ shops and the gal sheds threw forth a less vivid glare than uayal, Barney the Burker raved the collar of his coat over his ears, and pulled kis greasy comforter up to his lips, — at the same time diving both his hands inte the capamous pockets of lia coat, an he sped briskly nlong. The Scotts respectively pursued theiy ow: shiveridg ways, without the advantege of either upper coat or comforter: for the goud luck which they bad experienced in their preda« tory exploits the evening but one before, hed led to no inprovement of their costume, inasmuch ae arney the Burker purposely kept them in this impoverished and hall-ragged state that they might have the appearance of meniicants and thus all the more easily conduct their operations on the ockets of the unwary. Barney was the first fo reach the Smedloys’ house, which ho entered hy means of the alley leading by the mde of the chapel , and in a few minutes ho was followed the elder Savtt. At the expiration of a few minutes the younger lad jorned them; and they were ell three soon peated in the acullery in sompany with the Sued. aand Mrs. Wobjer, Liquor and glasses were upon the table; ead es of hot grog’ were 4 ke “Well, so nuffin was done yesterday Ff said the Burker, after a few indifferent remarks bag bean exchanged. “IT should have lookéd down inat COMM i “et En. NOOK “tu CO