The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 134: what you’re looking at

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Gn meee eee eee Smedley started up in his bed from a sound sleep, —giving vent to an ejaculation of terror on ro- copnising tbe disguised Burker. “ Hold your tongue, you scoundrel!” growled Barney, as he entered the room and closed the door. “ You sneaking, white-livered rascal!” he continued, in a voice which though low, was full of a deep savage concentrated rage; “did you think as how you could play your cursed pranks upon mo P” Jack Smedley was as ghastly as a ghost; while, as ho sate up in bed, his hair was literally standing on end and his whole frame was quivering. He endeavoured to speak—but could not: he was a prey to all the terrific and horrifying dread which the appearance of so desperate a man as the Burker was under such circumstances but too well calou- lated to inapire. “Now mark me, Jack Smedley/’ resumed the terrible Barney: ‘‘if I don’t find every coin of my money safe among your traps, I'll have your life though I swing for it to-morrow morning !” “It is all there,” gasped forth the miserable pold- beater, whose cowardice was only equalled by the wickedness of his disposition. “ But pray don’t hurt me—pray don’t !”’ “Hurt you?” echoed Barney: and he ground his teeth with ferocious rage. “I did swear to myself just now that I would have your life: but if so be I get back my blunt, I'll leave you for the hangman. There never was such a dirty, sneaking, paltry scoundrel as you are in this blessed world! Why, your wife Bab was always ashamed of you— always !—and I’m blowed if I think Jack Ketch himself would like to have to do with such a fel- low !” Smedley began to whimper and snivel; while the Burker, deliberately drawing forth bis dreadful. looking clasp-knife, proceeded to cut the chords of the box which was in the attic. He opened it: he found all his money safe; and his eyes glistened swith a savage joy as he resumed possession of his gold. He continued to ransack all the contents of the box: but he found therein nothing else worth taking. “ Where's your own money?” he demanded of Smedley. ‘“ Here, I suppose!” and he caught up the pantaloons which the gold-beater had been wearing, and which were lying over a chair. There were six or seven sovereigns and a quan- tity of silver in the pocket: but Jack Smedley, now having the horrors of utter destitution before his eyes, began to moan so piteously that the Burker thought to himself, “ He will do something despe- rate if I leave him penniless; and maybe he will blow the whole thing, turn round and peach, and make a general smash of it. I'll play the generous towards him.” The Burker placed upon the table the money which he had just taken from the pocket of the pantaloons,—saying at the same time, “ Leave off that precious moaning and whining—can't you, you fool! Or do you want me to slit your wind- pipe for you? Now look here, Jack—you're a thundering rascal, and you know you are: it would sarve you right to leave you without a scurrick, as you meant to leave me. But I'll just give you another chance: so 1’ll content myself with taking beck my own. And now good-bye.” With these words, the Burker turned and quitted THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 123 the attic,—while Jack Smedley felt so marvellously relieved by his disappearance, that the joss of the money he had meant to self-appropriate was now but a very secondary consideration. The Burker descended the stairs: the man and woman of the house issued forth from their room, wondering to hear only the footsteps of a single individual—for they had naturally expected that the supposed de- tectivé had come to take Jack Smedley into cus- tody. The Burker did not however choose to volunteer any explanation: he ordered them both to go back into their own room and not bother him with their presence: and then openin g the front door, he quitted the house. =e CHAPTER CIX. THE AYAH AND ME. REDOLIPFH. Ir was in the afternoon of the day following that night's incidents which we havg been relating ; and Mr. Redcliffe proceeded to Queen Indora’s villa. Having passed a conple of hours in her society, he took bis leave: but as he wee issuing from the front-door, Sagoonah, who opened it for him, suddenly laid her hand upvn his arm, and said in a low deep voice, “It is absolutely nevces- sary I should have a few minutes’ conversation with you.” Redcliffe stopped short in astonishment. For — an instant the eyes of the Hindoo woman had shed upon him their burning light in that same manner which on three or four previous occasions had struck him as being so peculiar: but now, the next instant, her looks became full of a soft and — earnest entreaty. “ What mean you, Sagoonah ?” he asked: “ what can you have to say to me which may not be said in the presence of your mistress? Your re- | quest is so strange——~”’ “ I beseech and implore that you will grant me a few minutes !” responded the ayah. “Oh! pray, pray do! Yonder—in the field at the extremity of the garden—TI will be there in a few minutes! Oh, Mr. Redcliffe, refuse me not !’’ She then hastily glided away ; anc Mr. Redcliffe, issuing from the villa, deliberated bewilderingly with bimself ag to the course which he ought to pursue. The haunting looks of Sagoonah ap- peared to corroborate the idea that she had really something of importance to say to him; and he could at least see no barm in hearing what this might be. He accordingly decided upon keeping the appointment which she had just given him : and yn quitting the grounde attached to the villa, he ropaired to the field which was completely concealed by a acreen of trees from the windows of Queen Indora’s habitation, Ina few minutes he behold the white dress of Sagoonah at a short distance: at first ahe approached rapidly; but when within a few of him, she relaxed her pace and seemed to be smitten with confasion and timidity. ‘What have you to fear, Sagnonah ?” asked Mr. Redcliffe: “why is your manner thus strange ? Draw near, and tell me for what purpose you be- sought this interview, and what important eom- munication you may have to make to me P” A GOnNGIOOKSHeOn