The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

182 had a veek’s holiday; and you and Tim must get to business to-morrow. The blunt I got t’other night won't last for ever ; and we must make hay while the sun shines.” It is not however necessary to record any more of the conversation which took place, on this par- ticular occasion, between Barney the Burker and his worthy pupil: for we must pass on to the nar- ration of other matters. On the following day the sale took place at the house which Joseph Preston had rarer oo Cambridge Terrace; and by eight 0’ in evening all the “lots” were cleared away, accord- ing to the terms duly specified in the of which Barney the Burker had obtained a copy, ao that he might judge whether the house would be left empty after the sale. It was between ten and eleven o'clock at night, that the ruffian issued from his lodgings-—~ where he left the brothers Scott engaged in the manner which he had sketched forth on the preceding day. Barnes directed his stepe towards the Regent's Park; and on arriving in the vicinage of Cam- bridge Terrace, he carefally scrutinized all the windows of the house where the salo had been. No bghts were to be seen anywhere in the front ; and Barney, passing round to the back of the Ter- ruptcy. . “That's all right,” said the Burker to himself: “applications isn’t to be made upon the equal objection to the attempt of a forcible entry by the rear of the ; inasmuch as portion of the Regent’s Park, to re- fiect upon the most prudential course to be pur- eaed under existing circumstances, and likewise to while away the time until a later hour, when the THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. carriages should have ceased to roll and the belated grooms should have retired to rest. The church clock in Albany Street had pro- claimed the hour of one in the morning, as Barney the Burker retraced his way to the rear of the premises, whero he had decided upon making the attempt. The coast was clear; and a small crow- bar, dexterously as well as powerfully used, speedily forced open the door of the coach-house. Enter. ing that place, he carefully closed and bolted the door behind him. One of his capacious pockets furnished a dark lantern: this was quickly lighted by means of matches, with which he was also provided; and he now took a survey of the pre- window looking into the yard which lay between the stabling-premises and the back of the house iteelf. “Let me see!” thought the Barker to himself: “ the front bed-room on the second floor. Them was the words.” He accordingly began to ascend the staircase in as noiseless a manner a8 possible,—pausing every now and then to assure himeelf that all continued still. In a few minutes he reached the particular room which he sought: but we should obeerve "| that from time to time he drew forth his dark lantern and threw the light around for a moment, so as to make himself thoroughly aware of the topography of the premises. The house was completely denuded of all its occasionally the naked boards of the staircases and the landings creaked beneath the Burker’s tread. Still no other sounds reached his ears; and he felt tolerably well assured that he was the only human being at that moment inside the building. He reached, as we have said, the chamber which he sought: again his lantern was produced—but he was cautious where he threw the light, for fear lest it should be observed outside by the policeman on his beat. The shutters were however closed; and thus there was less danger of COMMUC DOO CS (COL