The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 58: what you’re looking at

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hadn’t gived a boy a couple of taps on the head to make him surrender a wedge of bread and cheese he was a-breakfasting on as he Went to his work.” Mrs. Smedley procecded to the larder—whence she quickly returned with some cold beef, bread, dnd pickles; and the Burker, fallirig to, speedily madd # meal that wold hate sufficed for hilf.a. dozen ordinary appetites. AnotheF. tutnblet was produced; and Mrs. Smedley joindd him in the drinking department. _ “ And whett’s Jack?’ he itiquired in the midat of his tepast. “Jack's tt Liverpool,” rejoined Mts. Smediey: atid she étplaihed the object of fis mission, hot forgetting to add her khowledgn of its auccéss, 80 fat as that the phial of poietn was conveyed to her mottier’s hand. “ Woll l’m blowed,” siid the Butket, “if Sack hasn’t proved hisself fo be a feller of more pluck thati I’d have givéd hita credit for. But why is he staying at Liverpool ?” “ He thought it best to make 4 show of litizer- ing thete a bit, so that he might see the chaplain and a justico-of-the-poace dr two, and snivel and whimper atid play thé hypocrife——” “Ah!” interrupted the Barker, with 4 lock of tpproval and envy, “ Jack can comie it strong it that there line. Well?’ - “ Becatse, don’t you see,” continued Bab, “ if he had bolted off immediately after that interview ith his mother-in-law, it might have been sus- pected that he gave her the poison: whereas by staying there for two or three days, and going and talking to the authorities—pretending that he was overwhelmed with grief—thdt he didn’t know what to think, whether she had teally committed the ctime, or whether she was the innoceit victita of circumstantial evidence———” * Ah, that’s the ticket!” ejaculated thé Burker, with his mouth full of beef and bread: “ rothing ike coming the artful dodge——And who can do it better than my friend Jack Smedley P’’ “ And so, you see, Jack is stopping at Liver. pool,” continued Bab. “ What the deuce makes that there black cat of your’n afare so tncomtiort hard?” suddenly de- imanded the Burket. The woman started: for thé qhestioh which hér companion had just put, all itt a mormient rive the conviction that it hdd tiot ere tiow beeh mérd fancy oh her part. Bat unwilling to confess het fears to herself—stifl lesd to reveal theth to the Barker—Bab Sciedley instatitaneously cotaposed her countenancé; and in a voice of assumed quiet, she said, “There’s hothing wrong with the cat: she often looks like that.” “ Then, if it was my cat, I’d pison it—that’s what I’d do!” rejoized the Burker. “But how is things going ot: in London? I suppose you heetd tell of my escape——” “TY read i¢ im thé newspapers,” answered the woman. “ As for thin#s in London, we've allowed the Scotts a pound a week —that’s one thing: ahd I rather fancy this house is watched by the de- fectives—that’s another thing.” “The deuce f’ growled the Burke. “ But I day, Bab ” Scarcely were the words spoken, when a knock Was heard at the front door—a somewhat com- THR MYSTERIRS OF THR COURT. 47 manding kind of summons, and which made both Bab Smedley and the Burker spring up to their feet. “There’s something wrong,” hastily whispered the former: “ I know there is!” “T’ll get out by the back,” hastily responded the Burker. “ But no !” he instantaneously ejacu- lated : “if there’s & plant meant, there'll be people watching at tlhe back. Come quick f an go down the trap—and you cdn pretend you was asleep and didn’t fear the knocking at the door. i , must stall ’em off somehow or ahother, b.’ “Yes, yes—it’s the only chance !” As the reader may suppose this colloquy took place in very hurtied whispers, and occupied far less tire thah we have taken ih describing it. Avédy from the parlour they glided—Bab shading the light which she carried in her hand: down ihto the scullery they went—the table was moved dwny—the bit of carpet also—the trap-door was Yaised—and into the subterranean went the Burker. Then almost in the twinkling of an eye Bab Smedley restored the little place to its former appeafance: she put three or four saucepans and articles of crockery, and other kitchen implements upon the table, to give it an air as if it had not beeh recently moved; and she sped up-stairs. Meanwhile the knocking had been repeated in a louder and more imperious manner than before : yet all that we have described since the first sum- mons echoed through the house, had not taken inoté than three minutes. The feelihg that all her presence of mind was now absolutely hecessary—or at least apprehend- ing some emergency which would require this dis- play of her courage—Bab Smedley smoothed her Gountenan¢e; and with a light in her hand, she proceeded to open the front door. A tall stout tan at once entered the passage, followed by an- other individual, a glance at whom showed Mra. Smedley that it was the applicant for the vacant lodging of a few days previous. She kept her countenance admirably: and said, “ Good evening, gehtlomen. I suppose you’ve come to see Mr. thedley on business: but he’s not at home.” “Not at home, elt?” exclaimed the tall stout man. “ Are you sure?” and he looked the woman very hard in the face. “Quite sure,” she replied with the coolest effcontery—which indeed was all the more natural inasmuch 4s at the instant she was telling the truth. “ Ho’s at Liverpool, sit; and if you want anything in the goldbeating way 7 “Shué the door, Tom,” intetrupted the tall man, turning round abruptly to his companion. “ Beg pardon, ma’am,” he continued, cool’y walk. ing into the parlour, whither Mrs. Smedley fol- lowed with the light; “but this is no time for ceremony. We're officers—and we want your hasband.” . “ Officers !"—dnd Mrs. Smedley affected to give & shriek of dismay, ds if quite unprepared for the intelligence that thus burst upon her. “ Want my husband——” “ Yes—and I’m thinking we're likely to find him too,” promptly rejoined the officer, as he glaneed at the table. “A late supper, evidently setved up in a hurry—no tablecloth, nor nothing tidy—and two tumblers! Commie, ma’am, it’s no Goin G OOO adn SS} (CO