The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

108 REYNOLDS’ WORKS disguises. What the deuce is this, —a Jew’s gabardine and a great gray beard —”’ : “Yes, wig and all complete,” exclaimed Jack Smedley. ‘“‘Tt’s the only dress I have not as yet worn. But hadn’t you better stay and sleep here in my place to-night —”’ ‘It won’t do, Jack, for two such fellers as you and me to be too much together,’’ interrupted the Burker. “ I shall leave you presently, but we can make an appointment somewhere for to-morrow night, and in the meantime I’ll just borrow this dress of yours.” Thus speaking, the Burker proceeded to examine the gabardine, the wig, and the beard, and he thought to him- self that it would be the-very best disguise he could possibly assume. ‘Where did you buy this?” he asked, thinking it prudent to ascertain something of that particular disguise’s antecedents if he could succeed in obtaining such information. ‘‘T bought the whole kit which you’ve got in your hand at a shop in Rosemary Lane,” replied Jack Smedley. The Burker proceded to put off his own disguise, and he likewise washed the chemical dye from his hands and face. Then, by means of a thick fluid gum which Smedley furnished him, he fastened on the gray beard, which covered -all the lower part of his face, and which with its associated moustache concealed the malformation of his lip. He put on the gray wig which formed part of the costume; he hesitated as to resuming the spectacles, but he at length decided on discarding them. The gabardine was one of those long, black, loose, straight-cut upper garments worn by some of those old-fashioned Jews who sell pastilles, soap, or rhubarb in the streets, and when the Burker had put it on, Jack Smedley expressed his approval of the completeness of the disguise. A low hat, with very large brims, crowned the Burker’s head; and as he gave one of his coarse laughs, he expressed a wish that he had a small wooden tray and a few pastilles, that he might play his new part to perfection. “ And now, Jack, I’m off,” he added. ‘‘ You’ve lent me a good disguise, and you’ve got some of my toggery in return. If it was a little colder, I shouldn’t have given you up that handsome black coat of mine. But how about to-morrow night? Where shall we meet? ”’ CORNICLIIOOKS (E(0)