The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 347: what you’re looking at

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

316 REYNOLDS’ WORKS the Burker in a savage tone. ‘‘ Howsumever, it’s all over now — Ah, and here’s the blunt! ”’ For while the ruffian was giving utterance to those words, he stooped down and felt in the pockets of the murdered man’s pantaloons. He drew forth two purses, and a hasty examination of the contents showed him that though one contained but a trifle of money, the contents of the other amounted to about five hundred pounds. This was an infinitely greater treasure than any of the wretches expected | to acquire by their deed of turpitude, and their spirits rose to the highest point of horrible exultation. ‘‘ Now let Mrs. Webber come and mop up them boards at vunce,” said the Burker, “ or else there’ll be marks on ’em as will tell tales. And you, Bab, can stop with the lads to get the trap-door up, while me and Jack brings down the stiff’'un. The sooner all’s put to rights the better.” Mrs. Smedley, placing the light upon a chest of drawers, hastily descended the stairs, and in a few minutes the old woman made her appearance in the chamber, with a pail of hot water and a flannel. But little blood had flowed on the floor, and none had reached the carpet, of which there was only a slip by the side of the bed. The vile woman showed no more feeling than that which a slight shudder expressed, as her first glance was flung upon the corpse, and this arose merely from a swiftly transient sense of recoil from the spectacle of the battered forehead, but certainly not from any compunction at the atrocious deed itself. The floor was soon cleansed with the flannel, and then, as the old woman held the light, the Burker and Jack Smedley, raising the body between them, began to carry it down the stairs. The scullery was reached, and now the two lads for the first time looked upon aform whence murder had expelled the breath of life, —for the first time did they behold a corpse which was made so by the black turpitude of assassination. An instant— and only for an instant — did they shrink back from the spectacle; a moment, too,— and only for amoment, —did their minds appear to receive a shock, and then their brutal, savage self-possession was regained; the fierceness of their instincts appeared to triumph over any latent glim- mering of their better feelings. The Burker contemplated them both from the corners of his eyes; he saw full well what was passing within them, and a devilish expression of satis- CORNICLOOKS (E()