The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 133: what you’re looking at

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124 incident took place ; and a cry of terror ascended from that depth. Then the next moment the gold-beater was seen rushing up the steps as if he were demented—his hair standing on end—his countenance ghastly pale—his lips white—his ing with horror. “ You fool, you !” muttered his wife, clutching him violently by the arm, and giving him a savage shake: “ you'll make yourself heard yet before you have done !” It must be observed that Barney the Burker had not let the fall through any access of panio-terror—but merely that he might rush up- stairs and ascertain the cause of that strange sweeping sound which had reached the ears of thoes in the scullery. But on opening the door and listening, he found that all was still. “Give me a light,” he said, “and I'll go over the house just for your saytisfaction : cos why, none of you seem able to do it for yourselves.” A candle was immediately supplied him by one of the lads; and the instant he ap in the ground-floor passage with that light, the rushing sound was heard again—and an enormous cat which had been crouching on the mat, sprang up the stairs to the higher storeys. The Burker gave a chuckling laugh ; and descending to the scullery, closed the door, saying, “It’s on’y a great big black cat that’s got into the house.” “Tt’s the people's at the beer-shop,” exclaimed Bab Smedley. “ But isn’t it strange,” asked the gold-beater, who was shuddering all over, “that the brute should cut about the house like that? Doesn’t it seem as if it knew what had been done ?’—and with his haggard eyes he glanced towards the mouth of the vault. “Well, I des say there’s summut like instink in the affair,” said the Barker coolly: “ but as cats can’t speak, they can’t tell no talee—and so THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. was accomplished: they ransacked the contents of the carpet-bag—but they found no of any kind—no farther hoard of money. But on the of a few minutes, by means of the back part of the premises and the narrow alley by the aide of the chapel. “You behaved like a fool to-night,” said Bab Smedley to her husband, when they were at length alone together in their own chamber. “JI can’t tell what it was that came over me when we were all three together at Ais deor,” “ And then the affair in the ! To have that corpses come tumbling down upon one was sufficient to make the hair stand on end. And mind you, Bab --you were not altogether yourself to-night : were frightened up at the door—and you were frightened again too by the noise of we needn’t bother ourselves any more about the| ini matter. Come, Jack, take a drop of brandy; and don’t make such @ fool of yourself as you seem to be doing. Why,I can’t make out what’s come over you all on a sudden, that you have got so precious chicken-hearted. I¢ isn’t a werry good example you're setting them lads. Where's the cabin pi? “ All ready down below,” responded Bab Smedley : then addressing herself to her husband, she said savagely, “ There, toss off that brandy, and bea man! I’m ashamed of you |” The gold-beater drank the raw spirit which his “Come now, my boys, and lend s hand below,” said the Burker : “ you must custom yerselves to get familiar with stiff’uns. You come too, Jack.” The gold-beater and the Burker descended into the vault, with s candle—the two Scotts dug, sufficiently large to receive the corpse—a quantity of quicklime was thrown upon it—the earth was shovelled back—it was well flattened down, so as to make the bottom of the subterranean level—and thus the work was accomplished. The trap-door was closed—the carpet was drawn over it—the table was restored to ite place—quan- tities of spirite-and-water were mixed—and the CHAPTER XXIV. THE LISTENER. military appearance: that is to say, he contin to wear his moustache. His features were regular, . but somewhat bold and prominent: the expression of his countenance was decidedly sensuous. His hair was light: his eyes were large, and had a (COL (C DOO CS (COL