The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 131: what you’re looking at

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122 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. was so replete with a revolting levity int its allu- sion 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 of before daylight ;for now that his mind was made up for departure, he says, he hag a very great way to <“ His departuy’, | ra pursuing hig vein of vieota’ howe ble > jal, “will take Plage 80 te whe owt ee the way he has jonger than he has * ba ‘et "tine ‘ “ He upon nt,° added Mra ie Ms wee “ ro “Well, if es ve tha the place ah ere a wii Tea te Yr went a come,” served Ba rney. “J him—and he lock th wat said Mrs. robber i PP, “ “Tye got my tools with me,” caine Burker. “There’sas tidy a lot of ingtons ‘s ever was seen !”—and as he thus spoke, be duced an old cotton pocket- ths ae, in which the skeleton keys thus allu to’ Were 90 wrapped up as to prevent them from rattling or c as he walked. “I am afraid your jook be of no good, Barney,” said rs. Webber; a Meh odger al. ways leaves tho key in the lock. The door must not be forced open with any degree of violence : he would | with his cries and yellg in no time.” Whag should prevent us from getting in at the window ?” asked Jack Smedley. “It looks on the ard . rs be hanged ; ejacniated the Burker. “If he aps light, ht would be sure and hear the noise of the winder liffing up: and if so be it’s fastened, there's the chance of smashing the glass in cutting out a : hole with the glazier’s di’mond to thrust one’s fist in and unfasten it. No, no—tha}’s not the dodge. “Don’t’'be afeard, ma 'am,” con- tinued the ruffian addressing himself specially to Mrs. Webber, “I s00R have the key out of the lock, and no mista “ How ?” inquired Jac i « Never do you mind: you'll see all about it byme bye. But we mu im 0 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 passed in drinking on the part of all, combined with smoking on that of the male portion of the miscreant gang; and when the kitchen clock had proclaime midnight, the Burker a the ashos out 4 his pipe and drained his glass “ Now for business,” he s seat. “Come, Jack—Jou w so let’s take off our boots. ing to Mrs. Smedley, ‘ ‘must “come to hold the candle. You, ma’ani—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 cautionsly did the three wretches ascend to the first floor—the old woman and the two lads re- maining below. With such stealthiness did the Burker and the Smedleys mount: the stairs, that not a board creaked; and Bab was careful that her fe the whole neighbourkoc Smedley. rising from his go along with me: on ’ he added, turn- garments should 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. Perhaps 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 ane all these sorts of things a particular study— out df was no detail requisite for the wor out of a successful iniquity, which he had not care- fully Tractised, 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. he | ¥es—ho slept at the midnight hour, when the ruthless miscreants were bent upon his destruc- tion! The key, as Mrs. Webber had represented, was in the lock; and Barney now ascertained that it was turned round in such @ way that it could not be pushed straight into the room, even if he had g | entertained the notion of adopting @ course which * | by being certain to make it fall on the boards within, would atand the chance of startling the lodger. The end of the key projected out a very little way from the hole, on ‘he 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 aye piece of wire; aud this he fastened raat end‘ of the key. It was now easy to L such a way that it could be thrust on, ‘the inner of tha door; while the wire ‘nok merely prevented’ ij from falling on the boards, buf likewise held it pendent at a suff- cient distance om the Press itself so as to preclude the pani of its knocking against the panels. A skeleton kéy was now introduced into the lock thug skilfully cleared ; and in a few minutes 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, e ke out of ‘the shook Smedley off, and made fierce geaticulations 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. ““ Ab! 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 a a ss tt ND (COL (C DOO CS (COL