The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 277: what you’re looking at

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264 a little man: “for that Mother Bambridge is the scandal of the neighbourhood, and never spends a single penny at my shop.” The ludicrous connexion of indignant morality and mortified selfishness which characterised the ehandler’s observation, provoked another smile on the part of the two officers: but he was now ready to render them his assistance—and that was the essential. He led them forth into his little yard, and showed them a ladder, which Stanley at a giance saw was just high enough for his purpose. The wall separating the two yards was quickly scaled by the Captain and Lord Charles—the chandler not offering to accompany them out of his own premises: for he was not endowed with a large amount of courage. The chief danger to be now apprehended, was that their proceedings might be observed from the infamous house, should any of the inmates be still up. Not a single blind however was seen to move: no sign was there of aught threatening to disturb them. The ladder was placed against the window of the room over the parlour to which the two officers had been conducted when in the house; and Captain Stanley, with his right hand in his coat-pocket ready to draw forth a pistol, began to ascend the ladder,—Lord Charles Meredith re- maining at the foot. On reaching the window, which had a dingy calico blind drawn down inside, the Captain immediately perceived that the sashes were not fastened; and this was an immense ad- vantage in favour of the success of the enterprise. As noiselessly as possible did he begin raising the lower sash ; and when he had thus lifted it about a foot, he raised the blind in order to peep in. A bed was near the window: a man lay upon it, with his clothes on ; and on a chair by the side of that bed was a brace of pistols. The man was sleeping heavily: bat e curtain concealed the upper part of his body—so that Captain Stanley could not dis- cern his countenance; and the curtain was beyond the reach of his outstretched arm from the position where he now stood. He thrust up the sash a little higher, and was now enabled to reach the back of the chair on which the pistols lay. Lifting the chair completely up, he set it gently down again close within the window; and removing the pis- tols thence, consigned them to the pocket of his paletot. Then he beckoned Lord Charlies Mere. dith, who attentively and anxiously watched his proceedings, to ascend the ladder. The sash was raised yet a little higher; and still the man slept on as if he were under the influence of liquor. Stanley passed into the room ; but the cord of the blind getting entangled round his foot, made him stumble against the chair. The man sprang up from the bed like a wild beast suddenly awakened from its lair; and the first glimpee of his countenance convinced Stanley that he was now confronted by none other than the terrible Burker himeelf. The ruffian glanced towards the chair with the evident intention of snatching up his pistols; and perceiving they were gone, a cry of savage rage, like that of a hysena, burst from his lips. Captain Stanley drew forth a pistol—presented it at the Burker’s head—and bade him surrender or he was adead man. But with the sudden fury of the wild beast unto whose howling cry we just now likened that of the ruffian, he sprang upon Stanley THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. —burled him upon the floor—seized the pistol from his was on the very point of discharging its contents at his head, when his arm was caught in a powerful grasp-—-the weapon was huried upon the floor. All this was the work of s few seconds; and we need hardly inform the reader that it was Lord Charles Meredith who springing into the room, thus saved the life of his adventurous friend. - ° The very instant that the Burker was thus levelled, Lord Charles Meredith’s knee was upon his chest: and the threat was repeated, that he must surrender or have his brains blown out. Bat the two officers had to deal with a man of the most desperate and determined character,—a man too who possessed the brute strength and courage of alion. Hurling Meredith off him, he rose as far as his knees, when he was assailed by Stanley, whom ho likewise dashed away; and then snatch- ing up a chair, he hurled it with all his force at the lead of Meredith who was returning to the assault. The nobleman however darted sufficiently aside to save his head, and received the blow upon his shoulder: but i1¢ made him a for an instant he was smitten with the lea that his arm was broken. All this too was but the work of a few instants,—during which however either one of the officers might have shot the ruffiaa dead: but i¢ was by no means their parpose to save the hangman his duty, unless at the last ex- tremity in defence of their own lives. As for Barney the Burker,—he dared not roar out for assistance, for fear of arousing the whole neigh- bourhood: but by harling the chair at Meredith, he gained a moment’s time to do that which seemed to answer his own equally weil: for he seized hold of a cord, which passing through a hole in the ceiling, hung against the wall; and a bell sent its clanging sound through the house. “It is useless for you to resist!’ exclaimed Stanley, again rushing upon the villain just as he was about to tear open the door: and at the same instant Meredith seized upon him by the other arm,—both now clinging to him with s desperate tenacity. And desperate too were the struggles of the ruffian—diabolically savage was the expression of his featares, ashe endeavoured to bite his assailants; and were it not that his clumsy shoes were off, he would undoubtedly have broken their legs with the tremendous kicks that he dealt. And now there were the sounds of numerous persons rushing ebout the house: the door was burst open—and the four bullies whom the two adren- turous officers had already seen beneath that roof, rushed in. Lord Charles Meredith and Captain Stanley were in a moment overpowered by nun- bers—they were made prisoners—and now, as the only chance left of ensuring the capture of the Burker, they both shouted with all their might for assistance. Vainly did they release their arms from the grasp that they might get at their pistols: they not. tols The instant the Burker was freed, he rushed to the window: but beholding the chandler adjoining yard, he fancied that a trap was him in that direction—and he resolved to S i CO IMUC DOO Col