The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

| | | b 122 was so replete with a revolting levity in its allu- sion to the dreadfal crime that had been doter- mined upon. “I asked him st what hour; and he said at six o'clock, as he wanted to get off before daylight; for now that his mind was made up for departure, he says, he hag a very great way to go.” “ His ’, Trayther think,” said Barnes, pursuin vein of hideous, horrible jocularity, will take place sooner than he suspects ; and the way he has tq go will be a precious deal longer than he has besgained for.” “He says he is going upon the Continent,” added Mrs. Webber. “Wall, if he likes ive that thore namo to the placo where old Nick lives, he is werty wel- come,” observed Barney. “T lef} him—and he locked the door, as he always does,” said Mrs. Webber. “I’ve got my tools with me,” exclaimed the Barker. “There's as tidy a lot of akellingions as ever was aeon!’—and ae be thug spond, be pro- duced an old cotton pocket-hands bled the skeleton keys thus alladed to were #0 up 44 0 provent them from reftling oF as he walked. “I am afraid your tools will be df no good, Barney,” said Mrs. Webber; “for the -lodger al- ways leaves the key in the losk. The doar must not be forces open with any degrees of violence : he would raign the whole neighbourhood with his cries and yells in no time.” “What ehould prevent us front getting in at the window PF” asked Jack Smedley. “It looks on the back yard——~" “Winders be hanged!” ejaculated the Burker. “Tf he sleeps light, ho would be sure and hear the noise of the winder lifting up: and if so be it’s fastened, there’s the chance of smashing the glass in cutting out 9 hole with the glazier’s di'mond to thrust one's fist in and unfasten it. No, no—that’s not the dodge. Don’t be afenrd, ma’am,” con- tinued the rufflan, addressing himaclf specially to Mra. Webher, “Till goon have the key out of the look, and no mistake.” “ How P” inquired Jack Smedley. ‘ “Never do you mind: you'll sce all about it byme bye. Bat we must do nuffin for an bour or go, till the covy’s fast locked in the arme of Mur- phy. So now for @ buase and blowing a cloud.” . An hour and s half were passed in drinking on the part of all, combined with smoking on that of the inale portion of the migcrognt gang ; and when the kitchen cloog had laimed midnight, the Burker knocked the out of hee pipe and drained his glasa. “Now tor business,” he said, rising from his seat. “Come, Jack - you will go slong with me: so jet’s take off our boots. You,” he added, turn- ing to Mrs. Smedluy, “must some te bold the candle. Yuu, ma'aw—aad you two Jade--must wait down bere till you're wanted P” Barney and Jack Swedley tuok off their boots ; and Mra. Smedley, with the chamber-candlo in her hand, led the way from tue ecullery. Noisvlesaly and cautiously did the three wretuheeascend to the first floor—the old wortan and the two lads re- maining below, With sweh stcalthiness did the Burker and the 3medieys :mount the stairs, that in whioh d ‘ Sy ra garments should not even rustle against the wail. On reaching the landing, the Burker bade Mra. Smedley hold the candle near the key-hole, but so shade it with her hand that the light should not penetrate through into the chamber. He thea applied his ear to the key-hole, and listened with breathless attention. Perhaps a person less exe perienced than the ruffian was in such matters, would scarcely have succeeded in ascertaining that the inmate of the chamber slept: but Barney had made all these sorts of things a ‘particular study— | and there was no detail requisite for the working | out of a successful iniquity, which be had not care- fully practised. Slowly withdrawing his head from the vicinage of the key-hole at the expiration of a minute, he gave his accomplices to understand by @ significant nod that their intended victim sleps. Yos—he slept at the midnight hour, when the — miscreants were bent upon his destruo- tian The key, as Mrs. Webber had represented, was in the lock; and Barney now ascertained that it was turned round in such a way that it could not be pushed straight into the room, even if he had entertained the notiun of adopting a course which by being certain to make it fall on the boards within, would stand the chance of startling the lodger. The end of the key projected out a very little way from the hole, on the exterior side of the door; and the Burker, having directed Bab to hold the light in a particular manner, proceeded with hia operations. He drew forth from his pockot a stout piece of wire; and this he fastened round the end of the key. It was now easy to turn the key in such a way that it could be thrust out of the luck on the inner side of the door; while the wire not merely prevented it from falling on the boards, but likewise held it pendent at a suffi- cient distance from the door itself so as to preclude the possibility of its knocking againat the panels, A akeloton key was now introd iced into the lock thus skilfully cleared; and iu a few ininutes the door was opened. Barney wade 8 sign for Bab to stand back, so that not a single glaam of light should penetrate juta the room; and ayain he listened attentively, All of a sudden he closed the door, and made an- other sign, to indicate that the lodger was awaken. yng. A panic-terror seized upon Jack Smedley ;} and clutching the Burker with one hand, and his wife with the other, be endeavoured to drag them th away from the spot. Bab herself was irreso- ute how to act: the Burker, ferociously determined, shouk Smedley off; and made fierce gesticulations tu the effect that the work muet be fintshed, for that they hud gone tov far to recede. But Jack Smedley was no jonger master of higuself: he was treubung all over—iis countenance was as paie as death—and the infection uf bis own terrors was bemg rapidly communicated to bis wite. The Burker continued to yesticulate in & wenacing manner; and his louks deuuted supreme diszust and contempt fur Jack Sinediley. “Ny, no! the whole neigubourhood will be alarmed |” whispered this individual, as he onoe more clutcbed the Burker®y the arm. “Ah! what's this?” cried a voice from within, at the same instant that the handle of the doer was heard to turo; and the key pendent to the a enemas THE MYSTERIREG OF THE COURT. ‘ j ‘ bad a aE mc TE OA RCC Lp A ETL I SO eS ESS Le I, ee 9 en | not a board creaked; and Beb waa careful that her i wire, knocked against the panel. _ menos» nity cConicloooks.con