The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

THE GRAVESTONE 261 health; and so you and I will have a drop of beer presently, when we have finished our morning’s work.”’ ‘Tt must have been a sixpence in halfpence, though,”’ thought the Burker to himself, “ for I saw you stoop several times, old feller, to pick the coins up; and I’ll be bound it was a handful of silver, or else how should you know she had plenty of money? ’”’ But Barnes only thus mused inwardly, and did not give audible expression to his thoughts, for he was particularly careful not to excite in any way the sus- picions of the sexton. ‘“ Yes,’”’? continued Jonathan, perfectly unconscious of what was passing in the mind of his assistant, ‘‘ she has got a pocket well filled with coin, and now I bethink me, she said I was to drink the health of Crazy Jane.”’ “ What a rum name to call herself by! ’”’ observed Barney; but as he averted his countenance for an instant, its expres- sion was ghastly, for the mention of that name had dissipated whatsoever little doubt there was in his mind, and had con- firmed all his worst fears. ‘‘ And so she’s coming back again, is she? ’”’ he inquired. ‘She says so, and I have no doubt she will,’’ responded the sexton. ‘‘ She has got something into her head about the poor lady that lies buried there; and I know enough of these crazy people to be aware that when once they do get hold of a particular crotchet, they always stick to it. She is as cer- tain to come back as that you and I are here.”’ “Poor creature! ’’ said the Burker, affecting a tone of sympathy, although at the same instant he resolved upon the destruction of either the sexton or crazy Jane — and per- haps of both. “Though you are such a strange-looking fellow,’ said old Carnabie, ‘“* you have got a good heart, that 1s quite clear. One must not always go by the looks.”’ “‘T should rayther think not,’’ ejaculated the Burker, as he walked on by the sexton’s side. The two men proceeded to the accomplishment of the work they had in hand, but all the while the Burker was employed in digging a grave for some recently deceased villager, he was deliberating with himself upon the mode of executing the hideous purpose he now entertained. The toil continued till midday, at which hour Jonathan returned to his cottage, while the Burker proceeded to the public- CoOnnicloookKks (CO)