The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

110 REYNOLDS’ WORKS pear within the rays of the lamp at the corner of the street, and with another lowly muttered but terrific imprecation, he hastened away. When beyond view of the policeman, the Burker paused to reflect upon the course which he should now pursue. That Jack Smedley had really robbed him, was only too evident, and instead of being in possession of a considerable sum of money, Barney was almost penniless. He not merely longed to get back his gold, but likewise to wreak a terrific vengeance on Jack Smedley. Suddenly a.thought struck him. He advanced to the nearest cab- stand, drew the waterman aside, and putting a shilling into his hand, asked him whether such and such a person (describing Smedley according to his disguise) had fetched a vehicle from the rank within the last half hour. The water- man replied in the affirmative, and he furthermore named the house to which the cab had gone to take up the in- dividual’s luggage. This was the house where Smedley had lodged, and therefore the waterman’s tale was evidently correct. But the waterman was totally unable to afford a clue to the direction in which the cab had subsequently driven. | ‘But if so be you particularly want to know,” added this functionary, ‘“‘ you’ve only to wait till the cabman comes back, and then you can learn all about it.” The Burker decided upon adopting the hint thus given, and he entered an adjacent public-house, where the water- man promised to rejoin him immediately upon the return of the particular cabman whose presence was now required. The Burker, in a mood of savage sullenness, meditated the most desperate vengeance if he should only succeed in tracking out his false friend. Thus nearly an hour passed; Barney was growing desperately impatient, but at length the waterman made his appearance, accompanied by the cabman, who had only just returned to his rank. The Burker now ascertained that Jack Smedley had been driven in the cab to a street at the back of St. Luke’s Hos- pital in the Old Street Road, that he had alighted there, and had taken his luggage into a house the inmates of which were in bed at the time of his arrival, but had got up in obedience to his summons, and had given him admission with much apparent willingness. The Burker was com- pelled to give the cabman a shilling for this information, CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)