The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 155 “T congratulate your lordship,” said the official, who was himself highly delighted with what he conceived to be the successful result of a proceed- ing at which he had materially assisted. * Much asI am horrified at this man’s character and crimes,” said the Duke, “ yet if there be any way in which I can temporarily ameliorate his condition while he is in this place——” *‘ There is nothing, my lord, which you can do . in that respect,” answered the Inspector. ‘“ He will be removed by the earliest mail-train to- morrow morning to Liverpool; and in this cell must he remain until the hour of departure.” “ Well then, there is nothing I can do for him,” observed the Duke: then turning to the Burker, he added, “ Unhappy man, I hope you will repent of what you have done !” Having thus expressed himself with a mon. strous hypocrisy and dissimulation, the Duke of Marchmont issuec from the cell. “You shall have hot water almost immediately,” said the Inspector, pausing for an instant ere he locked the door. “ Thank’ee,” answered the Burker : “but it’s too late now. I’d much rayther be left to go to sleep quietly, if so be I’m to atart off so thunder- ing early in the morning.” “But you require food before you go to sleep,” said the Inspector. “Not s mouthful—and not a drain,” rejoined the prisoner gruffly. ‘“ Do you think a feller has got any stomach for grub when he is in sucha precious plight as this? I wish you'd leave me to myself—undisturbed—to sleep away my bad thoughts: and then I shall thank you.” “¢ Very well,” answered the Inspector: “ you shall not be disturbed :”"—and he then locked the hage door of the cell. As the Duke and the official issued forth into the street again, the latter said in a servile manner, “See, my lord, what it is to have a great title. If I hadn't happened to have told that fellow who your lordship is, he never would have given up the ring.” “‘ And as I am indebted to you for so much civility and attention,” responded Marchmont, “you must not feel it an insult if I proffer you some little token of my gratitude.” At the same time his lordship thrust a ten- pound note into the Inspector's band: and then hurried away, as if for the purpose of cutting short the thanks which the recipient of this bounty began to proffer. Bat let us return to the Burker. Scarcely had the door of the cell again closed upon him, when he gave a sort of bound upon his seat, as if to afford ebullition to his hitherto pent-up feelings of delight. Not only had he now in his possession a little instrument by the aid of which much might be done, and the important deed of an escape per- hans be effected: but he had likewise the assur- ance that the Duke of Marchmont was not aban- doning him to his fate, but that he was interesting himself in him. “* Bo,” said the Burker, thus continuing the train of his ideas, “if the worst comes to the worst and I don’t get ont of limbo now, but find myself cast for death at Liverpool, there’s a nobby cove as will stand my friend; and I shouldn't wonder if he was to bring the case of Mr. Barnes Esquire afore the House of Lords, and say as how it would be a thundering shame to put so useful a genelman out of the way by making his neck acquainted with a thing that’s only fit for a hoss or a hass—a halter to wit. Ah! it’s a blessed good thing to have a Duke as one’s pal: for some- RS cS Ata tS Re how or anothcr he’s sure to get me safe out of this . precious mess that I’m in. And if so be I do come off scot free, I’ll hunt out that sneaking, snivelling rascal, Jack Smedley ; and I’ll have his life as sure as his name’s what it‘is. Perhaps I shall go across the water at the country’s expense —just as our great ambassadors travels for nothing —or as them dirty scamps of German Princes does when they comes over to visit their pals at Vindsor Castle or Buckingham Palace. And if I do go out in that there honourable manner to Wan Diemen’s Land or Australia, so much the better for my resolve to wring that feller Jack Smedley’s neck : cos why, he’s certain to be lagged. And if, I’m let free altogether through my friend the Duke—or if so be [ escape to-night—blowed if I don’t etart off at my own expense—that is, at the Duke’s—but it’s just the same thing: and I'll never rest till I cook Jack Smedley’s goose.” The Burker sometimes had a habit of musing as well as of talking in a strain that was horribly and ferociously humourous: and such was the mood that he found himself in now. A pitchy darkness prevailed in the cell: but if any eyes had been peering in upon that wretch, and if they could have penetrated the Cimmerian blackness of the place, it would have been seen that his countenance expreased a diabolic savageness while he was thus meditating his schemes of vengeance in respect to Jack Smedley. The Burker felt the file; and by the touch he knew that it was one well suited to his purpose. He was tolerably well assured that he would not at least for the present be intruded upon, inasmuch as he re- flected that whatsoever the Inspector had promised in the presence of the Duke of Marchmont, he was certain to perform. The reader can have been at no loss to comprehend the Burker’s motive in declin- ing to have hot water sent in wherewith to take | off bis beard, and likewise in refusing the refresh- ments which the Inspector had proffered. Ho wished to be left entirely to himself, so that with the least possible delay he might commence operations to- wards the achievement of his escape. It was really true, as he had stated to the constable, that he could not take off his false beard without the use of hot water: for the adhesive matter clung tight to the skin, which it would assuredly peel of if it were attempted to remove the beard by vio- lence. And then, too, it must be observed that the Burker had not been shaven for two or three days; so that the falso beard had a particularly powerful hold on the natural stubbly growth over all the lower part of his face. Not many minutes elapsed after the Duke of Marchmont and the Inspector had quitted the cell, before the prisoner—now convinced that everything was again quiet—began to file away at one of the handcuffs. The operation of severing the iron was not a very long one, although he had to work somewhat at a disadvantage from the fact that his two bands were kept by the connecting chain incon- veniently close together. But when one ring was thus sundered, and that hand was free, the other GOnNGIOOKSHeOn