The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

o02 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “The deuce,” growled the Burker. ‘“‘ But I say, Bab —” Scarcely were the words spoken, when a knock was heard at the front door,—a somewhat commanding kind of summons, and which made both Bab Smedley and the Burker spring up to their feet. ‘‘There’s something wrong,” hastily whispered the for- mer; “‘ I know there is.” “ Tl get out by the back,” hastily responded the Burker. “But no,” he instantaneously ejaculated; ‘if there’s a plant meant, there’ll be people watching at the back. Come quick. JI’ll go down the trap, and you can pretend you was asleep and didn’t hear the knocking at the door. You must stall ’em off somehow or another, Bab.” ‘“‘ Yes, yes; it’s the only chance.” As the reader may suppose, this colloquy took place in very hurried whispers, and occupied far less time than we have taken in describing it. Away from the parlour they glided, — Bab shading the light which she carried in her hand; down into the scullery they went, the table was moved away, the bit of carpet also, the trap-door was raised, and into the subterranean went the Burker. Then almost in the twinkling of an eye Bab Smedley restored the little place to its former appearance; she put three or four sauce- pans and articles of crockery and other kitchen implements upon the table, to give it an air as if it had not been recently moved, and she sped up-stairs. Meanwhile the knocking had been repeated in a louder and more imperious manner than before; yet all that we have described since the first summons echoed through the house had not taken more than three minutes. Then feeling that all her presence of mind was now abso- lutely necessary — or at least apprehending some emergency which would require this display of her courage — Bab Smedley smoothed her countenance, and with a light in her hand, she proceeded to open the front door. A tall, stout man at once entered the passage, followed by another indi- vidual, a glance at whom showed Mrs. Smedley that it was the applicant for the vacant lodging of a few days previous. She kept her countenance admirably, and said, ‘‘ Good evening, gentlemen. I suppose you’ve come to see Mr. Smedley on business, but he’s not at home.” “Not at home, eh?” exclaimed the tall, stout man. ECORNICLIOO KS (E(0)