The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

THE BURKER’S ADVENTURES 107 “ And so you haven’t heard anythink about Bab?” said the Burker, thus resuming the thread of a conversation which was temporarily interrupted by the process of mix- ing some spirits and water, the materials for which Jack Smedley had just placed upon the table. ‘Nothing of her,’’ answered the last-named individual. ““T suppose you know how I gave the detectives the slip at the station the other day, and ever since I’ve been play- ing at hide-and-seek with them.” “You don’t mean to say they’re on your track?” de- manded the Burker. “T hope not,’ responded Jack Smedley, shuddering violently at the bare idea. ‘‘ But what is it otherwise than playing at hide-and-seek when one is obliged to go about in all sorts of disguises? I’m sure I don’t know how it is to end. I’m uncommon tired of this kind of life, but I don’t dare leave London. I think it’s the safest place, after all, when one’s in trouble.” ‘“‘ No doubt of it,’”’ remarked the Burker. ‘‘ But the people of this house? ”’ “Oh, they’re all right enough, — or at least I hope so,”’ rejoined Jack Smedley. ‘‘ I pass as Mr. Wilkins here, and they think I’m a begging-letter impostor or something of that sort. You may very well suppose that I have not taken the trouble to undeceive them.”’ “T should rayther think not,’ replied the Burker. ‘“ As for myself, I’ve just been doing a little bit of business which renders it necessary that I should turn myself inside out and put on a new disguise.” ‘“‘ Well,’”’ responded Jack Smedley, ‘‘ there is choice enough here for you,’ and opening a box he displayed several dis- guises of different kinds, and each being as unlike all the rest as possible. But where have you been living in London? ”’ ‘““T haven’t been living nowhere,” rejoined the Burker. “TI only come up to town this morning, and I don’t think my name has yet figured in the fashionable arrivals.” ‘“‘ And that disguise, that dye for your face —”’ ‘“‘ Oh, it’s too long to tell how I come by it,” interrupted the Burker. ‘ I’ve got some business in hand that will keep me in London for a day or two, perhaps more, and therefore I shall just take the liberty of borrowing one of these here EOMINGIOOKS (CO)