The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

82 REYNOLDS’ WORKS they separated. But it struck Barney the Burker that as he emerged from the back gate, his ear caught a sound as of some one darting away, and he further conjectured that this some one was a female by the rustling of the garments. His keen eyes flung thin, piercing glances in the same direction, but the alley was involved in total darkness, and he could therefore distinguish nothing. He now rushed forward along the lane, but he overtook no one, and therefore endeavoured to per- suade himself that he had either yielded to a false alarm, or else that it was some person belonging to an adjacent house speeding forth on a message, and that the incident had no particular significancy to warrant his transient apprehen- sions. Still there was a certain vague misgiving in the mind of Barney the Burker, and ere he returned to the public- house where his worthy acolyte and pupil Bill Scott was awaiting his presence, he lurked about in the lane and its vicinage for upwards of a quarter of an hour. No further circumstance, however, transpired to renew or confirm his suspicions, and as he at length moved slowly away toward the low public-house or boozing-ken where he had established his headquarters, he said to himself, “‘ No, it’s nuffin to be scared at. As for ghostesses, blow me if I’m the chap which is likely to be surreptitious — superstitious, I mean; and as for any von a-listenin’ at the gate and then bowling off in such a manner as that, — no, it’s all nonsense. ’Twas no doubt a servant-gal a-running for the beer, and some of them gals does flit along just for all the world as if they was wild.” While thus musing, Barney the Burker pursued his way toward the boozing-ken, and in the meantime we must see what had taken place within the dwelling of Mr. Anthony Pollard. Scarcely had Mrs. Webber issued forth from the house into the back yard, when there was a knock at the front door, and Mr. Pollard, not hearing his housekeeper answer the summons, imagined that she must be otherwise engaged; he accordingly proceeded himself to ascertain who it might be. Taking the candle in his hand, he repaired to the door, and on opening it, perceived a lady of tall stature, well- developed form, and good apparel. He at once conceived that this must be Mrs. Rayner, but with his habitual cau- tion, he waited for her to announce herself. ECORNICLOO