The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 158: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 147 hie own mind as he slowly paced along: “ but this means that she will not or cannot forgive me in respect to what I have done ‘towards others in whom she is interested. And all things con- sidered in whom can she be so interested as in him who is assuredly alive—who is in England—and whom I have seen? Yes—they must be well acquainted—it is only too evident; and her visit to Oaklands was a trick-—a stratagem, devised on his behalf—doubt- less suggested by him too! It {s this castern woman only whom I fear : it is Indora only whom I apprehend. Were she out of the way, he would become powerless: he dares not come forward— he is compelled to work through thé means of an agent. Yes—if Indora were put out of my path, I should feel myself safo-———I might defy the whole world |” Here the Dake of Marchmont etiddenly stopped short, not only in his tnusings but likewise in his walk : for on raising his eyes, whom should he behold at the distance of a dozen yards bat Barney tho Burker? The Duke could scarcely belivve the evidence of his own senses: and yet it was so. There stood Barney dreesed in the Jewish costame, with his tray of pastilles in his hand. “This fellow is mad, to. remain thus in Lon- don {” thought the Dake within himeelf: but the tiext instant a feeling of joy shot through his heart. Drawing out his purse, and keeping it in his hand, so &s to have the appearance of being about to bestow alms on the seeming Jewish mendicant, into their head; and as it suits my lord’s purpose that the Lady Indoors is to have her hash settled, settled it willbe! But, by jingo! here's that old scoundrel again !” This mental ejaculation bore reference to old Jonathan Carnabie, who was returning down the street; and for an instant the Burker thought of pitching away his stock-in-trade and taking to his heels. But now there were several persons passing at the moment; and such a proceeding would natutfally excite suspicion that there was something wrong: whereas in respect to Jonathan it might be a false alarm after all. The Burker’s gate swept rapidly up and down the street: no policeman was in ¢ight—no one who at all answered to his tolerably droarate notion or knowledge of a detective. Therefore the Barker reniained at hid post—but inwardly resolving to decamp the instant Jonathan Carnabie should be again ont of sight. It must be admitted that he now crreed the unue- cessary folly which hed exposed him to such perils; and hid mind was by no means reassured when he beheld the sexton of Woodbridge making straight towards him. Butas he drew near, the Burker saw that he had a pleasant and agreeable expres- sion of ecuntenahce; and he mid within himeelf, “I wonder what the old dog wante now P” “J will buy a few more of your pastilles,” said Jonathan. “My landlady tells moe that they are exceedingly ehéap, and also very good.” “How many?” asked the Burker, in a feigned Voice, and at thé same time imitating as well as he was able the accents of a Jow of the lower the Duke accosted him. There were very few | order people passing by at the time: and not a potice- man wat in sight. “ What ere you doing hero?” inquired March- mont, in a hutried manner and in a low voice, as he still kept playing with his purse for appearance’ eake. “ A sellin’ of these worry pretty little things at @ werry thoderate rate,” responded the Burker, ‘* Bat jokin’ apart, my lord—I was only a killin’ time until evening should draw in~when I meant to take sume steps to get an interview with your Grace.” | ‘ What for?” demanded the Dake hastily. “ Only, my lord,” was the reply, “ because the basiness wasn’t done proper last night—though, by jingo ! it wasn’t my fault: for if that cussed young woman chos® to tog herself out in her missué’s dress, how the deuce was I to know any- think about it? She had a weil down over her faeo _menoemn?* “Yes, yese—-I have read all about it,” inter- rupted the Dake; “and I see full well that it was a mistake on your part. I do not blame ou—~-”” “ And that there mistake/’ rejoined the Bur- ker, “can be put all right and etraight; and the proper goose can be cooked if your lordship chooses to say the word.” “ Meet me this evening in the lane at the back of my stables,” said the Duke hurriedly: and then, with an appearance of ostentation for the behoof of the passers-by, he flung a shilling into the Bur- ker’s tray. . “There! I knowed how it would be,” thought Barney to himself: “theese here aristocratic chaps always will havo theit way when they once takes it Jonathan stated the number he required, and drew forth the price. The Burker pocketed the money, still eyeing the old sexton askance: but there was really nothing in Jonathan’s looks to warrant bis apprehension, But we must leave these two individuals for a few minutes thus standing together, while we relate some particulars which are essential to the progress of our story. As the reader has soen, rewards had been offered for the apprehension of the Smedleys and the Burker ; and we may add that no efforts had been left untried by the police to get upon the track of cither or all of these individuals. The horrible revelations mate by the subterratican of the gold- beater’s house in Lambeth, had excited the public feeling to a high degree; and the officers of justice thereforé considered it absolutely necessary that the miscreants should be hunted down and brought to the bar of a criminal tribunal. But if in such s case it were desirable to capture a particular one rather than the others, this one was the Blrker. His complicity in the hideous murder of the lawyer Pollard at Liverpool—his escape from the gaol in that town—and his daring, de conduct to- wards the police-officials at the Smedleys’ house, were motives in addition to all others which ren- dered it absolutely necessary for the sccurity of society that such a diabolic fiend should be cut short in his iniquitous carect. But, as wo have seep, the Barker as well as the Smedieys had hitherto evaded the pursuit of justice. The Secretary for the Home Department, acting upon the representations of the police authorities, determined to take a step which it was hoped would have the effect of bringing the gang of miscreants within the range of the law’s operation. Hand- GOnNGIOOKSHeOn