The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 249: what you’re looking at

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234 THE MYSTERIES. self to procure an introduction to her father,” con- tinued the Prince: “we have 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 ST hss ssn sts ssssssesstpsnren— EE hat, and took his departure. ——— ee CHAPTER LXVI. THE “SUBJECT.” It was midnight: and Mr. Thurston was seated by the fire in his surgery, reading a medical book. Hereferred to his watch ahd found that it was twelve o’clock precisely. A dead silence prevailed 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 Jead- ing into the yard, hastened to unfasten the gate com- municating with the stables. Two men instantly entered the prémises, 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 seé, sit, as clock-work,” whispered the Buzgloak., * This way—quick!”’ said Thurston; and the two men followed hiin into the surgery, on the floor of which they threw their butthen 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 give 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 head of the “subject” as high as the purposes of the experimentalist might require — and several anatom calinstruments 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 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 still 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, seeined to have subsided, by the subsequent relaxationof the features, into that calm and sleep-like plavidity 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 partially open—the fine teeth 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 must have been pre-éminently handsome and well ecal- culated to make ah impression on the heart of a susceptible lady. * Well—what d’ye think of this here stiffun?” demanded Miles the Buzzloak of the surgeon. “ Stiffun be damned!’ ejaculated Dick the Tramper. “Its as limp and yielding as a young babby; and a more lovelier corpse I never set eyes on. It’s quite a pleasure and a recreation like to surwey such a specimen of dead natur’—for I s’pose I may call it in that there manner.” “i'm blowed if you ain’t getting sentimental over it, Dick,” said the Buzzloak, casting a look of deep disgust upon his eoinrade. “ And the sooner you place the body upon that table, the better I shall be pleased,” exclaimed the surgeon, with an imperious motion of the hand. “ Heave him up, Miles,” said the Tramper ; and the subject was speeilily 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 stipu- lated sum. * Ail right!” said the Buzgloak, taking up the coin. “ At any future time, sir, we shall be glad of your orders as heretofore. You must adinit that we did the thing well in this here instance—togging ourselves off spruce, and going to the Sheriff's as if we was Ramsey’s most particular buzzim friends——” ’ “ And imploring that the body might be given up to us to receive decent burial,’ added the Tramper. “Ah! it was finely manayed—and no mistake,” continued Miles. our eyes—a precious snivelling look about us—a few holler groans % “] have no doubt you played your part to per- fection,” interrupted Mr. Thurston. ‘ Good night to you both,” he added, with that abruptness whieh 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 disseetiing-chamber, Holding the candle in his hand, he approached the taole: but suddenly he started —and though na- turally courayeous as well as utterly devoid of su- perstitious belief, he stagyered back a few paces, as the light was reflected in something shining on the face of the form stretched upon that table. *“ White cambrie fogles up to: JOO CONMUC <SEiG@