The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 289: what you’re looking at

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

262 REYNOLDS’ WORKS house to fetch as much beer as might be purchased with the sixpence which Jonathan gave him, and which he represented as the extent of Crazy Jane’s gratuity. After dinner the old sexton had some business to transact in the village, and the Burker’s time was now at his own disposal. He repaired to the churchyard, so that in case Jonathan should return earlier than he had intimated he might at once be found; and lighting his pipe, he threw himself on the grass in the shade of a high tombstone, for the day was exceedingly sultry, and the sunbeams poured down with all their un- clouded torrid strength. Flinging off his hat, the Burker covered his head with an old cotton handkerchief, and thus made himself as comfortable as possible, while enjoying his pipe and giving way to his reflections. It will be necessary to observe that since the Burker had been in Jonathan Carnabie’s service he had occupied a little outhouse, or we might rather say a shed, attached to the sexton’s cottage, and in which a truckle-bedstead had been | placed for his accommodation. Mr. Barnes was soon in a condition to judge by Jonathan’s habits that he was econom- ical and saving, and he more than suspected that the old man had a little hoard in his cottage. Already had the idea flitted across his brain that he if could acquire a positive certainty on the point, he would help himself to the treasure, — for treasure it would prove to him, no matter how small the amount, — and he might then betake himself to another district, or else get out of the country altogether. Now therefore that the Burker’s alarm was excited in respect — to the appearance of Crazy Jane in the neighbourhood of the village of Woodbridge, he was resolved to achieve that crime of which he had hitherto but vaguely and dimly thought. But if he could also:possess himself of Crazy Jane’s money, it would be an addition to the store he anticipated to derive from the other quarter, and the Burker was not a man to stick at a couple of crimes, — no, nor a dozen either, if he could only thereby improve his present depressed con- dition. While thus reflecting, and utterly unsuspicious of the possibility of being overheard, Barney began to give audible expression to his thoughts. “ Yes,” he said, while leisurely smoking his pipe, ‘‘ Wood- bridge is getting a precious sight too hot to hold such a popu- (E(0) Gomichbooks