The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 165: what you’re looking at

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154 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. be shrewd and cautious enough not to show any in- convenient sign of recognition. Marchmont entered the cell with the bull’s-eye ; and for a moment holding it so that ite light fell upon his own features, he darted upon the Burkeg a look which enjoined prudence ahd caution; sd that Barney, at once taking the hint, and inwardly rejoiced at the presence of his Grace, consider that the best thing he could do waq to remgin silent and take his cue from the nobleman. “Do you not recollect,” continued Marchmont, “that I stopped and gave you a shilling to-day, when you wero standing in the etreet ?” “ Well, I think I do,” replied the Burker. * And youremember thet I returned,” continued his Grace, “and asked you something about s Well, I do recollect summit of that also,” was the prisoner’s response. “And you deny having secs thet Haig Ghich f dropped f”’ “To be sure: cause why I didn't one it.” “JT know you said so at fie time,” ¢ontinued the Duke of Marchmont: “ bib I bad my doubts then —and I have thom sfill ihoge strohgly now. Conia, my man, eoxt foes the truth, Shak Firig is of na hed to you-—" “Not s bit,” replied the Burker. | “But it is much valued by me,” prosesdad Marchmont, “because it was a gift froih @ relative who is now nomore. Situated as you atp, un- happy man———” “ Yes—a devilish pretty sitidgtinn it ta, spid the Burker. ‘Nice easy seat, thid—pldaeatib airy cell—no smell of the drains—plenty of good grub —a bottles of the best wine—and a set of say- nothink-to-nobody kind of fellows that doesn't take you by the scruff of the neck and shove you along when they wante you to move fiots placs to place.” 7 “Come, none of yout nonsense, nol dk. claimed the Inspector sharply, as be stood just behind the Duke. “Oh! that’s you, Mr. Jaek-in-office—is 16?” said the Burker. “Pray do not irritate him,” whispered the Duke hastily to the official, “I am sure he has got my ring ; and I think I can do something with him :”’—then again turning to the Burker, March- mont said, “ Come, my maz, it will do you no good to deny the fact.” “ Well, Vil tell you what it is,” interrapted Barney, who was at no loss to conjecture that the Duke wanted to speak to him alone: “ if eo be as I’ve got summat to tell, I shan’t tell it in the presence of that Jack-in-office. He's insulted me —he’s wounded my feelin’s in thoir most sensitive pint——” | “ Mr. Inspector,” whispered the Duke, now again hastily turning towards the official, “may I venture to beg that you will just etep away from the threshold of the door ?” “To be sure, my lord,” responded the officer, who was all obsequiousness. “I do really believe your Grace will manage the fellow yet; but if not, I will have his person searched once more.” “ Meanwhile let me try what I can do,” whis- pered Marchrnont. The Inspector instantaneously quitted the thresh- old of the open door, and began pacing to and fro eee ee ee ee ee eee eee oe in the little yard, purposely making lis bonts stamp heavily on the pavement, so as to convince the Btirker that he was no longer listeninz. .4Ooméd tiow, my good man,” said the Duke, thus speaking itt order to keep up appearances in casa the Inspector should overhear what was pass- ing, “ you mey as well give me up that ring; and if money ig now of any service to you, 1 shall cheerfally pay for the restoration pf a jewel on which I ge$ so much value.” While thus speaking, the Dake of Marchmont produced the file—chousing a moment when the nspector’s footsteps sounded from the extremity of the little yard; and at the same time his Grace bent a significant look upon the Burker. The prisoncr clutched that file—nodded knowingly— and thrust it into his waistcoat-pocket. “Perhaps they will soon search you again ?” hastily whispered the Duke: and then he at once exclaimed aloud, “ This denial is ridiculous! I now you must have my ring.” “OF corse he has,” muttered the Inspector, Who extght those words while turning round close y the doot, “ No—thay won’t search me again,” wad the pick whisper which now came from the Burker's B. et tell yoti that it is useless $a persist in this Hsia, @xclaimed the Duke: then taking a lamond ting from his pocket, he aided in a low undet-tone, ‘Give it up to mé ia a few tinntes.” "TI tell you £ haven’ gos it!’ ted the arker as he reésived the ring and nodded tig- nificantly. “ But all appearances are against you, my man,” Fayoine the Duke: thea again lowering bis voice, he hastily added, “If you succeed in escaping, write to &8—and I will send you more money :” —at the sains time he thrust some compactly erushed ts py Serre into the miscreant’s hand. There Was @ further semblance of sccusation and ramonstrance on the part of the Duke, as well as of at rd? denial on that of the Burker,—until at lengtii thd rtobleman, &s if yielding to a fit of angry impatience, ejaculated, “It is no use, Mr. Inspector : I can do no good with this fellow.” “IT was afraid not, my lord,” observed the officer, now returning to the threshold of the door. “ ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, to treat his lordship in this manner.” “ His lordship P” ejaculated the Burker: “ how did I know he wasa lord? Youeaid fust of all be was a gonelman.” ‘It is no less @ personage than his Grace the Duke of Marchmont,” replied the Inspector oster.- tatiously. e “ ‘Well—a duke may doa poor devil some good,” said the Burker: “so here goes! Juet put your fingers, my lord, inside my veskit—right under- neath this cussed old gaberdine; and there you'll find a slit in the linin’.” The Duke, handing the bull's-eye to the Inepec- tor, advanced towards the prisoner, and affected to be fumbling amongst his garments in eearch of the place of concealment which had been described. But it was in reality from the waistcoat-pocket that he took the ring; and turning towarde the Inspector, the nobleman displayed it with a luok of joyous satisfaction. (CO G OOO SS} (CO