The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

THE SUBTERRANEAN ool “ Well, I’m blowed,” said the Burker, “if Jack hasn’t proved hisself to be a feller of more pluck than I’d have gived him credit for. But why is he staying at Liverpool? ”’ ‘He thought it best to make a show of lingering there a bit, so that he might see the chaplain and a justice of the peace or two, and snivel and whimper and play the hypo- crite — ”’ “Ah!” interrupted the Burker, with a look of approval and envy, ‘“‘ Jack can come it strong in that there line. Well? ” | ‘Because, don’t you see,” continued Bab, ‘‘if he had bolted off immediately after that interview with his mother- in-law, it might have been suspected that he gave her the poison; whereas by staying there for two or three days, and going and talking to the authorities, pretending that he was overwhelmed with grief, that he didn’t know what to think, whether she had really committed the crime, or whether she was the innocent victim of circumstantial evidence — ”’ ‘“‘ Ah, that’s the ticket,”’ ejaculated the Burker, with his mouth full of beef and bread; ‘‘ nothing like coming the artful dodge. And who can do it better than my friend Jack Smedley? ”’ ‘“ And so, you see, Jack is stopping at Liverpool,’ con- tinued Bab. | ‘““ What the deuce makes that there black cat of your’n stare so uncommon hard? ” suddenly demanded the Burker. The woman started, for the question which her companion had just put ail in a moment riveted the conviction that it had not ere now been mere fancy on her part. But unwilling to confess her fears to herself — still less to reveal them to the Burker — Bab Smedley instantaneously composed her countenance, and in a voice of assumed quiet she said, ‘“ There’s nothing wrong with the cat; she often looks like that.”’ “ Then, if it was my cat, I’d pison it, — that’s what I’d do,’ rejoined the Burker. ‘‘ But how is things going on in London? I suppose you heerd tell of my escape — ” “I read it in the newspapers,’”’ answered the woman. “ As for things in London, we’ve allowed the Scotts a pound a week, that’s one thing; and I rather fancy this house is watched by the detectives, that’s another thing.” EGOMINGIOOKS (CO)