The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER X CONTINUATION OF THE BURKER’S ADVENTURES THatT door was opened by the slipshod servant-girl who was maid of all work in the house, and Jonathan Carnabie led the way to the little parlour which he occupied and which was the very same that Christian Ashton tenanted at the time he was private secretary to that illustrious potentate, the Grand Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha. Bar- ney the Burker followed his new acquaintance into the parlour; the girl was ordered to bring up glasses and hot water, the brandy was produced, and after having imbibed the contents of the first tumbler, Jonathan Carnabie found his spirits expanding after the damp thrown upon them by the terrible aspersion flung against the character of his land- lord Mr. Chubb. ‘“You’re wery comfortable here, wery comfortable in- deed,”’ said the Burker, looking around him. ‘“‘ Yes,’”’ answered Jonathan, “ there is nothing to complain of in respect to the lodgings. I’ve got a nice little bedroom exactly overhead.”’ “ And I hope you lock your door at night,” said the Burker, in alow voice. ‘‘ Not that I mean to say the people of the house would do anythink wrong, but London is a queer place, and thieves is like ghosteses, — they insini- vates theirselves here, there, and everywhere.”’ ‘Thank you for the hint,” said old Jonathan, refilling his tumbler. ‘‘I myself have had a little bit of experience in respect to the consummate villainy of a London scoundrel. Did you ever hear of a man called Barney the Burker? ”’ “T can’t say that I have,’’ responded the individual himself, speaking in a slow and measured tone, as if he were racking his memory upon the point. ‘‘ Who is he? ” 102 ECORNICIOOKS (E(0)