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

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eroesed the threshold, Tony Wilkins rushed away— and turning the corner of the street, was at once out of sight. “ What the deuce does it mean?” exclaimed the Cannibal, sweeping his startled looks up and down the marrow alley in which the boosing-ken was situated: for be naturally thought that his accom- plice had suddenly been terrified by the appearance of police-constables. “ And how come he out of the house ?’’ said the potman. “I never heerd him go down staire?”’ “ What do you mean ? where has he been ?” de- manded the Oannibal, turning round with such fierce abruptness upon the potman, that the latter started back in terror. “* Been? Why he come to wait for you——" “ But where has he been?” vociferated Chiffin, furious with mingled rage and apprehension. * Been? Why, up in your room——” “ Perdition!” thundered forth the Cannibal; and felling the potman with one tremendous blow of his fist, he sprang up the stairs like a maniac. The master of the boozing-ken, startled from his sleep at that tremendous rush of heavy steps up the staircase, issued forth from his room just as Ohifin had sprung past the door to gain the higher storey. And now, what cries of rage and bitter imprecations reached the ears of the astounded landlord, who dared not ascend to see what wae the matter. But in @ few momenta Chiffin came thundering and storming down again ; and then his lose was re vealed, amidst a torrent of the most shucking oaths and diabolical threats. The landlord besought him to be tranquil, or hie vociferations would alarm the neighbours: bat it was some minutes before the Cannibal could recover the slightest degree of calm. Then he hastily threw off his own soiled and still damp garments, and put on a suit with whioh the landlord farnished him. This being done, he rushed away from the place, resolved to scour the whole neighbourheed in search of Tony Wilkins, even thcngh ab theriek of being wevopnised and exptored by any policemen whom he might meet. He hed not however gone far, before he was struck by a-sense of the i of his conduet, as well as by the thought that Wilkins, having at least twenty minutes’ etart of him, was not likely to be overtaken in that mase of streete, lanes, and alleys. He stopped short, uncertain what course to pursue. Should be go back to the boosing-kea ? Bearcely had he asked himeclf thie question, when he recollected that he had left the produce of the past night's crime in the clothes be had put off: for such was his hurry thet he had omitted toe take the money and the jewels from the poskets thereof. He now cursed his own oversight as bitterly as he Wilkins. He was He had not even his surgiarious i about him: the very twols that constituted his “ sin-trade” were wanting. The morning, too, was advancing—the people were dangerous for him to be abroad. There was no alternative but to go back to the boosing-ken. On reaching the alley where it was situated, he cautioesly round the corner; and the first opuees thas met his view, wae a policeman etanding the dour Tel the publise-house. The constable ruight ealy be waiting for a morning dram; or he | THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. might have a more important object in view. There The murder in Agar Town might long ere this have been discovered—suspicion, after the adventare of the canal, would naturally fasten iteelf upon him —this publico-house might be known to be one of his haunte—and hence the presence of the police. All these reflections swept like a hurricane through the mind of the Cannibal; and he tarned abruptly away. The condition of that man’s mind was now horrible in the extreme: it was a perfect hell of all the worst and deadliest passions that can find a resting-place im the human breast. But the do- minant one was a disbolic thirst for vengeance against Tony Wilkins. He pursued his way through the narrowest and obssurest streets, ia the direction of the eastern out- skirt of the Bothnal Green district. The inhabit- ants of that poor and wretched quarter were now all entering upon the occupations and the toils of the new-born day. The milkman was making his roand, dispensing “hapo'rthe” of his well-watered ing forth from the dens where they hed slept,— walking firmly and looking bappily enough, till they entered upon the verge of superior neighbour- hoods, when they gradually assumed a shuffling, shambling gait and the most lugabrious expression of cvuntenance m order to pursue their calling. From some open windows the eounds of the weaver’s shuttle might be heard ; and at others, poor squalid- women were seen hanging out patched ragged articles of clothing to dry. Mechanics labourers were proceeding to the places where they, worked, while others were going to seek for em- ployment. Hideous male and female, were creeping along to the publie-house to take their morning dram: s with shouldered brooms, were on their way to the crossings that they claimed as little freeholds of their own in better neighbourhoods. The barber’s shop was filled with customers; and bristly beards were disappearing before the keen edge of the razor. Costermongers, with their baskets and trucks, were setting out on the day’s trading ventures, with as much speculative ion as if they were merchants proceeding to the City to dea! with hundreds of thousands of peunds sterling. Hero might be seen a litsle child of scarcely five years old staggering under the weight of a quartern loaf just fetehed from the baker’s: another returning from the chandler’s at the corner, with the half-ounce of tea, the quarter of @ pound of sugar, and the diminutive morsel of batter for the breakfast. Other children had already commenced the day’s usual routine of playing in the gutter, and picking up euch garbage as might serve to compensate for the scantinees of the meal whereof they had parteken in-doors. The Cannibal pursued his way; and in a short When he awoke the sun’s reys were hot and almost scorching, upon his eee Ce ncnnst Be nearly mea-eey- He fore clept several boars. He rose up and (COL DOO CS (COL