The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

106 REYNOLDS’ WORKS individual who had just entered. The latter was doing precisely the same thing in respect to the Burker, and though the eyes of both were shaded by spectacles, yet each ap- peared to have the intuitive suspicion that he was the object of these stealthy regards on the part of the other. The waiter brought in the fresh supply of spirits and water which the Burker had ordered, and when he had retired, the two occupants of the parlour surveyed each other again in the same stealthy manner as before. At length the Burker burst into a loud laugh, and dashing his hand upon the table, exclaimed, ‘‘ By jingo, Jack, it’s excellent! The only thing is, it’s too good!” —- Jack Smedley — for he was the disguised individual who had so recently entered — started up from his seat in alarm at that sudden guffaw on the Burker’s part, but recognizing his friend’s voice, he was relieved of a world of terror. ‘You don’t mean to say this is you, Barney? ” exclaimed Jack, as they shook hands. ‘Hush, you fool! No mentioning of names!” growled the Burker, savagely. ‘ But I tell you that you’ve done the thing too strong. That red wig of your’n,” he con- tinued, in a low voice, ‘‘ isn’t nat’ral; them false whiskers is too bushy, and then you’ve got the wery identical broad- brimmed tile you was always used to wear. What do you think of this for a masquerading costume? ”’ and the Burker glanced complacently over his own person. ‘“‘T never should have known you,”’ answered Jack. ‘ But I say, don’t you think the people of the house will think it odd that two such queer-looking chaps, both with spectacles on, should meet in their parlour? ”’ ‘‘ Where are you living, Jack? ” inquired Barney, hastily. “Pretty close by,’’ was the response. I’ve got a bit of a lodging, and three or four sorts of disguises — ”’ “The very ticket,’”’ said the Burker. ‘ Tell us where it is. Then you go off first, [’ll foller in a few minutes, and we'll have a chat about our affairs.”’ This arrangement was carried into effect, and in some- thing less than half an hour the Burker and Jack Smedley were seated together in a small, poorly furnished back room, belonging to a house in one of the obscure narrow streets leading out of the Commercial Road. ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)