The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

SA ee a > =_ SS Ne ea ST si SS steer ease espera 42 but he had no particular reason to suspect that he was watched, dogged, or followed. We must however see what had in the meantime been taking place at his own house. Immediately after his departure Bab Smedley took a deep draught from the tumbler which she had just filled; and she was sitting in rumination on the topics of their recent discourse,—when a knock at the front door startled the woman from her reverie. It was not a single knock—it was not precisely a double one, in the usual aeceptance of the term, which meane a series of strokes: but it was some- thing between the two. Bab Smedley took up the candle from the table, and hastened to answer the summons. The person whom she found at the door was a middle-aged man—of quiet, sate, respectable appearance — plainly bat decent dressed—and who looked like # Merk or small tradesman. “Are you the mistress of the house?” asked the individual, with a bow that was sufficiertly lite. a I am, sir,” r Bab,—“ dnd the master too, for that matter!” she thought within her- self: for she experienced an unmitigated contempt fur her husband, and the feeling was inseparable from her ideas. “Can I say a few words to you?’ asked the stranger. “To be sare!” replied Mrs. Smedley, without however making the slightest move é@ an invite- tion for the individual to enter. “You have lodgings to let?” he said j bat look- ing about him as much as to iply that he would rather speak to her in-doors. “We had, sir,” Mrs. 8 itnmediately re. sponded; “but they were Iet thid afternoon to a very respectable old couple that have knowh us for a great many years.” “ And yet the bill is stiff up in the window?” said the applicant, stepping back a pace or two to assure himself by another glance that such was the fact. “ Oh, is it P” said Mrs. Smedley coolly. “Then I forgot to take it down—and I will do so at once. I am sorry you should have had the trouble, sir-—— “Oh, no trouble! But perhaps you may have & spare room—lI only want on ’ “No spare room now, sir. Good evening to you :’—and Bab Smedley shut the door in the faca of the applicant, who seemed miueh inelisied to keep her in discourse. She returned into the parlour, and at once took down the card announcing that lodgings were to be let. She evidently did not much like the visit; and reseating herself, fell into a gloomy reverie, which was only occasionally interrupted by a re- currence to the spirite-and-water. In about twenty minutes after the little incident we havo described, Jack Smedley returned; and Bab at once vented her ill-humour upon him. “What was the use of your keeping that card stuck up in the window? I told you more than once that [ would not have it; and yet ” “But, my dear Bab, do hear reason!” inter. raped her husband, as he resumed his seat at the tadle. “'Yes—when you can talk it, and not before!” exclaimed the vigaro. “But what have you done ?” a ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “Those hungry dogs,” responded Jack, “ were >... at the place of appointment, waiting for their weekly money; and I told them where to be the next time it falls due. But don’t you think Bab it is a very hard thing we should have to allow these fellows a pound a week id “ How can we help ourselves?” demanded Mrs. Smedley. “Isn’t there a warrant out for Bill Scott’s apprehension? and isn’t he therefore’ obliged to play at hide-and-seek ? end if his brother Tim was to go out prigging in order to keep them both, wouldn’t he be dogged and fol- lowed, so that Bill would be certain to be ar. rested? There’s no doubt it’s bard enough upon us—but we can’t help ourselves. As for that card there——” “Now do listen, Bab!” said her husband en- treatingly. “When that cursed businés dt Liver- pool exploded, and your mother got into her present trouble, weren’t we obliged to do all we coald to keep up the appearance of our own respecta- bility? Didn’t we assure the neighbours that it was totally impossible Mrs. Webber could have éommitted the deed—that there was some terrible tinistake—and that her innocence would transpire on the trial ?” “ And the neighbours don’t believe us,” inter- jected Bab, sullenly. “No—I’m sorty to say they don’t altogether believo us,” responded her he dhs = oF or leant don’t know exactly what to think. They speak cool and look distant: but I do my best to ride it with a high hand, and seem as if I did not notice their altered behaviour. Well, I advised that the card should be kept up in the window as usual, jast as if we felt oar own respectability to be totally unimpaired, and as if we were at least conscious of our own innocence. Besides, the keeping up of the card was only a blind: for we agteed that we would fot let the lodgings even if anybody applied: because you and 1 have always so many things to talk about now, and we must fot stand the ehanee of being overheard. And then too, the Burkef may turn up at any moment —for Barney is such 4 desperate fellow, he’s almost certain to find his way to London—and if he does, he Would bé sute to conte to us, the worst lack on it!” “Thete’d etiotigh!” ejaculated Mrs. Smedley. “Some one has to apply for the lodgings; and I don’t like his sppedrance a bit, I ean teil ou.’ “Who?” asked the goldbeater, with a look fall of startled atixiety. “Ah! who?” ejaculated Bab. “How do I know? Bat who should come prying about this place here, and trying on all sorte of dodges to get in atnongst us for more reasons than o11e——"’ “Do you—do you think he was a—a—detee- tive?” asked Jack Smedley, with an awful elonga- tion of his pale countenance. “As hke as tiot!’ rejoined Bab petalantly. “ However, I stalled him off—I told him the lodgings were let to a decent old couple—I was precious short with him—and I shut the door. Now, the fact is, Jack, things can’t go on like this: Tam getting uncommon tired of living con- atantly on the fidgets———” ‘* Not more tired than me, [ know!” exclaimed her husband. “ Didn’t I propose a bolt to France Agena ee engy COMME OOO SS} (CO