The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 128: what you’re looking at

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122 was so replete with a revolting levity in its allu- sion to the dreadful crime that had been deter- mined upon. “I asked him at what hour; and he said at six o’clock, as he wanted to get off before daylight ; for now that his mind was made up for departure, he says, he has a very great way to go.” His departur’, I rayther think,” said Barnes, pursuing his yein of hideous, horrible jocularity, will take place sooner than he suspects; and the way he has to go will be a precious deal longer than he has bargained for,” “He says he is going upon the Continent,” added Mrs. Webber. “Well, if he likes to give that there name to the place where old Nick lives, he is werry wel- come,” observed Barney. “T left him—and he locked the door, as he always does,” said Mrs. Webber. “Tye got my tools with me,” exclaimed the Burker. “There’s as tidy a lot of skellingtons as ever was seen!”—and as he thus spoke, he pro- duced an old cotton pocket-handkerchief in which the skeleton keys thus alluded to were so wrapped up as to prevent them from rattling or chinking as he walked. “T am afraid your tools will be of no good, THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. garments should not even rustle against the wall. On reaching the landing, the Burker bade Mrs. Smedley hold the candle near the key-hole, but so shade it with her hand that the light should not penetrate through into the chamber. He then applied his ear to the key-hole, and listened with breathless attention. Perhaps a person less ex- perienced than the ruffian was in such matters, would scarcely have succeeded in ascertaining that the inmate of the chamber slept: but Barney had made all these sorts of things a particular study— and there was no detail requisite for the working out of a successful iniquity, which he had not care- fully practised. Slowly withdrawing his head from the vicinage of the key-hole at the expiration of a minute, he gave his accomplices to understand by a significant nod that their intended victim slept. Yas—he slept at the midnight hour, when the ruthless miscreants were bent upon his destruc- tion ! The key, as Mrs. Webber had represented, was in the lock; and Barney now ascertained that it was turned round in such a way that it could not be pushed straight into the room, even if he had entertained the notion of adopting a course which by being certain to make it fall on the boards within, would stand the chance of startling the Barney,” said Mrs. Webber ; “for the lodger al- lodger. The end of the key projected out a very ways leaves the key in the lock. The door must | little way from the hole, on the exterior side of not be foreed open with any degree of violence: | the door; and the Burker, having directed Bab to he would raise the whole neighbourhood with his cries and yells in no time.” “What should prevent us from getting in at the window 2?” asked Jack Smedley. ‘It looks on the back yard = “Winders be hanged!” ejaculated the Burker. “Tf he sleeps light, he would be sure and hear the noise of the winder lifting up: and if so be it’s fastened, there’s the chance of smashing the glass in cutting out a hole with the glazier’s di’mond to thrust one’s fist in and unfasten it. No, no—that’s not the dodge. Don’t be afeard, ma’am,” con- tinued the ruffian, addressing himself specially to Mrs. Webber, “I'll soon have the key out of the lock, and no mistake.” “ How P” inquired Jack Smedley. “Never do you mind:-you'll see all about it byme bye. But we must do nuffin for an hour or so, till the covy’s fast locked in the arms of Mur- phy. So now for a booze and blowing a cloud.” An hour and a half were passed in drinking on the part of all, combined with smoking on that of the male portion of the miscreant gang ; and when the kitchen clock had proclaimed midnight, the Burker knocked the ashes out of his pipe and drained his glass. “Now for business,” he said, rising from his seat. ‘Come, Jack—you will go along with me: so let’s take off our boots. You,” he added, turn- ing to Mrs. Smedley, “must come to hold the candle. You, ma’am—and you two lads—must wait down here till you’re wanted P” Barney and Jack Smedley took off their boots ; and Mrs. Smedley, with the chamber-candle in her hand, led the way from the scullery. Noiselessly and cautiously did the three wretches ascend to the first floor—the old woman and the two lads re- maining below. With such stealthiness did the Burker and the Smedleys mount the stairs, that not a board creaked; and Bab was careful that her <<< $$ $$ -- rrr ron irr ! hold the light in a particular manner, proceeded with his operations. He drew forth from his pocket a stout piece of wire; and this he fastened round the end of the key. It was now easy to turn the key in such a way that it could be thrust out of the lock on the inner side of the door; while the wire not merely prevented it from falling on the boards, but likewise held it pendent at a suffi- cient distance from the door itself so as to preclude the possibility of its knocking against the panels. A skeleton key was now introduced into the lock thus skilfully cleared; and in a few minutes the door was opened. Barney made a sign for Bab to stand back, so that not a single gleam of hght should penetrate into the room; and again he listened attentively. All of a sudden he closed the door, and made an- other sign, to indicate that the lodger was awaken- ing. A panic-terror seized upon Jack Smedley ; and clutching the Burker with one hand, and his wife with the other, he endeavoured to drag them both away from the spot. Bab herself was irreso- lute how to act: the Burker, ferociously determined, shook Smedley off, and made fierce gesticulations to the effect that the work must be finished, for that they had gone too far to recede. But Jack Smedley was no longer master of himself: he was trembling all over—his countenance was as pale as death—and the infection of his own terrors was being rapidly communicated to his wife. ‘The Burker continued to gesticulate in a menacing manner; and his looks denoted supreme disgust and contempt for Jack Smedley. - “No, no! the whole neighbourhood will be alarmed !” whispered this individual, as he once more clutched the Burker by the arm. ‘Ah! what’s this?” cried a voice from within, at the same instant that the handle of the door was heard to turn; and the key pendent to the wire, knocked against the panel.