The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

THE SUBTERRANEAN 309 that the two detectives still lay motionless at the bottom of the steps, and thus far a complete triumph was gained. But how to escape? Mrs. Smedley and the Burker had all their wits about them. They quickly ascended to the parlour, where they each partook of a hasty glass of spirits, and the Burker said, “‘ Now put on your things without an instant’s delay.” Bab rushed up to her bedchamber; her bonnet and shawl were slipped on; her money, the few trinkets she possessed, and a packet of papers were quickly secured about her person, so that in a couple of minutes she joined the Burker again. ‘“ Now we must make a rush for it,” he said. ‘“‘ You go out first, and turn to the left; Pll follow quick and go to the right. We must get out of London as quick as we can, and trust to chances whether as how we ever meet again. But first of all, have you got any blunt? ”’ Bab Smedley thrust three or four sovereigns into the Burker’s hand, and she then issued forth from the front door of the house. Barney kept it about an inch ajar to listen, with his club in readiness to receive any other police officials who might possibly rush in. But all was quiet, and after allowing about a minute’s pause, he quitted the habi- tation, closing the door behind him. Without the slightest molestation he continued his way along the street, and felt himself to be in comparative safety. There were in reality no more officials in the front part of the Smedleys’ house, but a couple were watching in the yard at the back, little dreaming of the utter discomfiture of their comrades within. The whole affair on the part of the detec- tives had been entered upon so quietly that the neighbours in the street continued utterly unsuspicious of what was going on, and thus no hue and cry was raised when the Burker stole forth. The officers, as the reader has seen, had come hither merely for the arrest of Jack Smedley, but if they could have foreseen that instead of the gold-beater they would have found the Burker, they would have adopted far different precautions and would have invaded the house in a posse. It might have been ten minutes after the Burker’s escape that the tall detective began to recover his senses, for he was only stunned — not killed — by the onslaught he had EGOMINGIOOKS (CO)