The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

THE BURKER’S ADVENTURES 109 After a few minutes’ deliberation, a place was named, and the Burker sallied forth. Returning into Whitechapel, he pursued his way toward Aldgate, in the vicinage of which he was acquainted with a public-house where he knew he could obtain a bed for the night without any questions being asked. But all of a sudden he stopped short, and a deep but terrible imprecation burst from his lips. He had left all his money behind him in the breast-pocket of the coat which he had taken off at Jack Smedley’s lodging. Yes, all the money he had received from the Duke of Marchmont, and all of which he had so recently plundered Jonathan Carnabie, had been thus left behind. In his breeches pocket he had but three or four shillings and a few half-pence. “ T don’t think Jack would rob a pal,”’ said the Burker to himself, as he began hastily to retrace his way toward the lodging-house, and yet the miscreant had terrible mis- givings in his mind. : The long gabardine getting about his legs, encumbered him in his walk, which now almost amounted to a run, and he kept on muttering imprecations against the Jewish cos- tume in which he had disguised himself. He reached the lodging-house, he knocked at the door; the summons was attended to by an old woman, who was the mistress of the place, and she exclaimed angrily, “‘ What do you mean by coming back again to disturb us between eleven and twelve at might? ’’ ‘No offence, my good woman,” answered the Burker, “but I just want to say a word to my friend —what’s his name again? Oh, Mr. Wilkins.” “Then it’s no use your coming here,’ replied the woman, ‘“‘for Wilkins has gone, bag and baggage.’’ “Gone?” vociferated the Burker. “It’s a he, and I will see him. So stand aside —”’ ‘““ Who says it’s a lie? ’’ demanded an old man, the woman’s husband, popping forth his head, which had a white cotton nightcap on, from aside door in the passage. ‘‘ You hadn’t left the house a minute before Mr. Wilkins went and fetched a cab, and took himself off with his traps, paying us a week’s rent instead of giving us a week’s warning. Now you’ve got your answer, and so be off with you, or I’ll call the police.’’ At that very instant the Burker beheld a constable ap- 3) CORnnICLOOOKS (CO)