The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 135: what you’re looking at

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EEE was so replete with a revolting levity in its allu- gion to the dreadful crime that had been deter- mined upon. “I asked him at what hour; and he said at six o'clock, as he wanted to get off before daylight ;-for now that his mind’ was e up for departure, he says, he has a very great way to “ His departur’, I rayther ink,” anid Rarnes, pursuing his vein m of hideo ty hore j jocularity, “will take plac re eau ey es vent and the way he has tq go will be § qs dekl longer than he has 6. for, ” “He sayg bd is going upon he Pontinent,” added Mrs. Webber. give that here “Ww, lik DAW ol ane ick lives, 1 he is werry ay the placa’where old come,” observed Barney. “] lef} him—and be locked the door, ag he always does,” said Mrs. Webber. “I've got my tools with me,” imed the Burker. “There’was tidy a lot of skellingtons as ever was seen !”—and as he thus spoke, he pro- duced an old cotton pocket-bandkerchicf in which the skeleton keys thus alluded to were 80 wrappe up as to prevent them from rattling or chinking as he walked. of we er good, “I am afraid your fools will be 9 Barney,” said Mrs. Webber; ; @ for the ways leaves e key in the lock. e lodge ca not be forced open with any degree of violence: he would raise {be whole neighbourhood with his cries an yells i in no time.” “What should prevent us from getting in at he window ?” esr’ Jack Smedley. “It looks on me ders be h ha nged |": ejaculated the Burker. “If Wviders light, te would be sure and hear the noise’ of ¢he winder lifjing up: and if so be it’s fastened, ¢here’s the chance of smashing the glass in cutting out a s bole 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 afeard, ma’um,” con- tinued the ruffian, addressing himeelf specially to Mrs. Webber, “I soon have the key out of the lock, and no mistake | “ How ?” inquired jack Smedicy. “Never do you miud: you'll see all about it byme bye. But we must do nuffin for an hour or 80, till the covy’s fast locked in the arms of Mur. phy. So now for a booze and blowing a cloud.” An hour and a half were in drinking on the part of all, combined wi smoking on that of the male portion of the miscreant gang; and when the kitchen clock bad proclaimed midnight, the Burker knocked the ashes out of his pipe and drained his glass. a “ Now for business,” he said, rising from his seat. “Come, Jack—you will go along with me: so let’s take off our boots. ou,” he added, turn- ing to Mrs. Smedley, ‘ ‘must come to hold the candle. You, ma’am—and you two lads—must wait down here till you’re wanted P” Barney and Jack Smedley took off their boots ; and Mrs. Smedley, with the chamber-candle in her hand, led the way from the scullery. Noiselessly and cautiously did the three wretches ascend to the first floor—the old woman and the two lads re- maining below. With such atealthiness did the Burker and the Smedleys mount: the stairs, that not a board creaked; and Bab was careful that her THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. garments “was eo replete with a revolting levity in its allu.] garments should not even rustle against the wall. not even rustle against the wall. On reaching the landing, the Burker bade Mrs. 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 then applied his ear to the key-hole, and listened with brdathless attention. Perhape a person less ex- 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 sorte of things a particular study— and there was no detail requisite for the working out of a successful iniquity, which he 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 a significant nod that their intended victim slept. ¥es—he slept at the midnight hour, when the ruthless miscreants were bent upon his destruc- tion! The key, as Mra. Webber had represented, was in the I ock; and Barney now ascertained that it was turned tound in such a way that it could not be pushed straight into the room, even if he had entertained the notion 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 littlo way from the hole, on the exterior side of the door; and the Burkér, having directed Bab to hold the light in a particular manner, proceeded with hig operations. He drew forth from his pocket a stout piece of wire; and this he fastened round the end'of the key. It was now easy to turn the key in ‘tn such @ way that it could be thrust out ‘of ‘the lock” on the inner side of thadoor; while the wire not merely prevented ‘ig from falling on the boardé, buf likewise held it pendent at a suffi- cient distance om the ‘door itself so as to preclude the possibility of its knocking against the panels. A skeleton key was now introduced into the lock thus skilfully cleared; and in a few minates the door was opened. ney made a sign for Bab to stand back, so that not a single gleam of light should penetrate into the room; and again he listened attentively. All of a sudden he closed the door, and made an- other sign, to indicate that the lodger was awaken- ing. A panic-terror seized upon Jack Smedley ; and clutching the Burker with one hand, and his wife with the other, he endeavoured to drag them both away from the spot. Bab herself was irreso- lute how to act: the Burker, ferociously determined, shook Smedicy off, and made fierce gesticulations to the effect that the work mast be finished, for that they had gone too far to recede. But Jack Smedley was no longer master of himself: he was trembling all over—his countenance was as pale as death—and the infection of his own terrors was being rapidly communicated to his wife. The Burker continued to gesticulate in a menacing manner; and his looks denoted supreme disgust and contempt for Jack Smedley. “No, no! the whole neighbourhood will be alarmed !’’ whispered this individual, as he once more clutched the Burker by the arm. ‘“ Ah! what’s this?” cried a voice from within, at the same instant that the handle of the door was heard to turn; and the key pendent to the wire, knocked against the panel. a eee (COLL (C DOO (GO)