The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

344 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“ And the worst has come of it,”’ interjected Mrs. Webber, sharply, “and I have got to bear all its brunt. I tell you what, Jack,’ she went on to say, her eyes glaring with fierceness upon him, “‘ those who commit crimes in concert should also share the punishment in concert; or else there’s no fairness and no justice. I feel as if I was made a scape- goat of —”’ ‘“ Nonsense, mother-in-law,” exclaimed Jack Smedley. ‘““When people embark in these sort of things, they each and all take their fair and equal chance. It might have happened to Bab, — it might have happened to me.” ‘You! you white-livered scoundrel,’ ejaculated Mrs. Webber, with a look of withering contempt; ‘‘ you would have turned around and peached on all the rest the very first instant. Bab too is as selfish as she can be. Look at the letters you have both written me, — full of that canting nonsense of yours, the infection of which Bab seems to have caught.” ‘““How could we write otherwise?’ asked Smedley. ‘Come, do be reasonable, mother-in-law.” ‘Reasonable indeed,”’ cried the wretched woman, ‘“‘ am I not in a state that 1s enough to drive one mad? You and my daughter are all for yourselves; you wrote to me when you should have come —”’ ‘The house was watched by the police,” interjected Smedley, “‘ and therefore —”’ ‘‘ How is it, then, that you are here now?” demanded Mrs. Webber, sharply, ‘‘ and what devil’s business has brought you to me? Can you help me to escape, Jack? Can you with all your art and cunning set me free, as the Burker has liberated himself? ”’ | ‘‘ Tf it were possible,’”’ responded Smedley, “‘I should —” ‘‘ Possible,” cried Mrs. Webber, contemptuously. “‘ Nothing is possible with you, except sneaking villainy and covert cowardly crime. But anything bold, — no, nothing of the sort. Look you, Jack Smedley, if I go to the scaffold it shall not be alone.” ‘“‘ Mother-in-law,” he ejaculated, vehemently. ‘Hold your tongue, and listen. Companionship is always sweet, and not the less so in death. At all events it will be a consolation for me to know that I am not the most mis- erable person in existence at that last instant.” ECORMICLIOOKS (E(0)