The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 299: what you’re looking at

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268 REYNOLDS’ WORKS the very best dodge that ever was. They take me for as snivelling and sanctimonious a fellow as themselves.” ‘To be sure they do,” ejaculated Barney, ‘‘ and it’s a dodge you must keep up. I thought of taking to it myself, only when I peep in the glass I can’t bring my mind to the belief that my looks is the wery best that’s suited for putting on a psalm-singing mug. No, that gammon won’t do for me; I must stick to what Iam. Besides, I shall make summut of them two Scots soon. But I'll tell you what’s wanted.”’ ‘‘ And what’s that?’ inquired Bab Smedley. ‘‘ Just to look on such a business as we may perhaps have here to-morrow night,’’ answered the Burker. ‘ There’s no use for chaps like the Scotts to think of launching theirselves regular in the profession till they’ ve see summut of that sort. They’ve got mischief enow in ’em, but they want hardenin’. I understand it right well enow. I know what human nature is. One must be deep in for it, as the sayin’ is, before one is at all times ready to go the whole hog. The feelin’s must be blunted. Bless you! it’s experience as does it all. Why should we be a-sitting here and talking so cool over a little affair of this sort, 1f we hadn’t gone through it all afore? To be sure not,’’ and as if to clench the argument, the Burker again struck his fist forcibly upon the table. ‘* Hush,’”’ said Bab Smedley, “not so loud! The old man up-stairs may hear you.’ ‘‘ T suppose he hasn’t no suspicion? ”’ asked Barney. ‘Not a bit,’? ejaculated Mrs. Webber. ‘‘ He takes me for a nice, good-natured, comfortable matron that tries to do all she can for him, and he thinks that Jack is everything that all the neighbours think him. As for Bab, he one day said to me that my son-l in-law ought to be proud of en a fine, handsome wife — | ‘‘ And so he ought,”’ exclaimed Mrs. Smedley, flinging upon her husband a look which was as much as to reproach him for not glorifying himself seme oneeic in the posseneer | of his spouse. “Well,” said the Bapslen “T think I'll be jogging now, and [ll look down to-morrow night, betwixt nine and ten o’clock, to see what has been done or what is to be done.” He rose from his seat, drained his glass, nodded familiarly to his three accomplices, stole gently up the flight of steps, and issued forth into: the back. yard. . Having clambered: Gomichbooks (E(0)