The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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~2 4 284 self to procure an introduction to her father,” con- tinued the Prince: “we bave therefore ample leisure to decide upon some expedient. But if in the in- terval she should happen to see mein my carriage—— However,” he exclaimed, suddenly interrupting him- self, “ we must leave it to the chapter of accidents. If there's an exposure, we can’t help it: and if there be none, so much the better.” Having thus endeavoured to console and reassure himself, his Royal Highness put on his cloak and hat, and took his departure. CHAPTER LXVL THB “SUBJECT.” Ir was midnight: and Mr. Thurston was seated by the fire in his surgery, reading a medical book. He referred to his watch and found that it was twelve o'clock precisely. A dead silence pretailed throughout the dwelling: but in a few moments it was broken by the tinkling of the bell which hung in that room. The surgeon started from his seat—threw the volume upon the table—and, opening the door lead- ing into the yard, hastened to unfasten the gate com- municating with the stables. Two men instantly entered the premises, carrying some heavy and sinister-looking object between them, and as the pale beams of a sickly moon flickered on their repulsive countenances, a cold shud- der passed even through the frame of the phlegmatic, selfish, and usually imperturbable Thurston. “Punctual you see, sit, as clock-work,” whispered the Buzgloak. “ This way—quick!” sald Thurston; and the two men followed him ipto the surgery, on the floor of which they threw their burthen heavily. It was something long and supple, enclosed in a large sack ! We have already stated, in & previous chapter, that there were three doors to the surgery,—one communicating with the consulting-parlour, the second with the yard, and the third with an apart- ment of which we promised to yive further details. Throwing open the door of this apartment, and leading the way with a light in his hand, Mr. Thurston bade the two men follow him with their burthen. The room thus entered was small and nearly naked in respect to furniture. A long dissecting table—a pail to catch the fluid which flowed from a corpse when opened—a rope suspended to a pulley fixed to the ceiling, and used to raise the ead of the “subject” as high as the purposes of the experimentalist ‘might require — and several anatom cal instruments scattered about upon the table,—these were the principal features of the place. A dark green curtain covered the window, which was protected by iron bars; and the floor was strown with coarse red sand. Miles the Buzgloak and Dick the Tramper carried their burthen into this apartment; and while one retained a tight hold of the bottom of the sack, the other, removing a cord which closed the mouth, proceeded to drag forth its contents. A human head appeared—then the upper part of a man’s body—and, the sack being abruptly drawn away, the entire form was exposed to view, dressed in the THE MY8TERIES. garments which it had on when cut down from the fatal beam in front of Newgate ! For “the subject” thus purchased by the surgeon was Ramsey the forger ; and a portion of the halter atill encircled his neck ! The countenance was as colourless as Parian marble—but neither distorted nor hideous. All the convulsive workings which are inseparable from so violent a death as that of strangulation by the accursed cord, seemed to have subsided, by the subsequent relaxationof the features, into that calm and sleep-like placidity which follows an easy and natural dissolution. The eyes were closed—the long dark lashes resting motionless upon those cheeks whereon not a hue nor a tint of life was left: the mouth was partlally open—the fine tecth gleaming between the pale lips. Over the brow fell curls of black hair, soft and silky as that of a woman; and it was easy to perceive that ere this countenance lost the animation of vitality, it mast have been pre-@minently handsome aud well cal- culated to Make an impression on the heart of a susceptible lady. * Well—what d'ye think of this here stiffan” demanded Miles the Buzgloak of the sargeon.’ “ Stiffun be damned!" ejaculated Dick the Tramper. “It's as limp and yielding as a young babby; and a more lovelier corpse I never sét eyes on. It’s quite a pleasure and a recreation like to surwey such 4 spécimen of dead natar’—for | s’pose I may call it in that there manner.” “I’m blowed if you ain’t getting sentimental over it, Dick,” sald the Buzyloak, casting a look ot deep disgust upon his comrade. “ And the sooner you place the body upon that table, the better [ shall be pleased,” exclaimed the surgeon, with an imperious motion of the hand. “Heave him up, Miles,” said the Tramper ; acd the subject was speedily stretched at full length on the dissecting-board, its head resting on the ele- vated part at one extremity. Mr. Thurston then conducted the two men back into the surgery, where he counted down the stipo- lated sum. “All right!” said the Busgioak, taking up the coin. “ At any fature time, sir, we shall be glad of your orders as heretofore. You must admit that we did the thing well in this here instance—togging ourselves off spruce, and going to the Sheriffs as if we was Ramsey’s most particolar buzcm friends——” “ And imploring that the body might be given up to us to receive decent burial,’ added the Tramper. “Ah! it was fiuely managed—and no mistake, continued Miles. “ White cambrie fogles up our eyes—a precious snivelling look about us—s few holler groans ——” *J have no doubt you played your part to pe™ fection,” interrupted Mr. Thurston. ‘ Good night to you both,” he added, with that abruptness wiuch unmistakably told the two men he would rather have their room than their company. They accordingly took their departure; and Mr. Thurston returned to the dissecting-chamber. Holding the candle in his hand, he approached the taole: but suddenly he started—and though ns- turally courageous as well as utterly devoid of s0- perstitious belief, he staggered back a few paces, 4 the light was reflected in something shining on the face of the form stretched upon that table. ee COMING OOKS 3 eS SS cP SE Ctr «<= a Tn COMM