The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

THE BORROWED COSTUME 129 the Burker hated Mr. Redcliffe, against whom he enter- tained a bitter spite on account of the affair at Woodbridge, and he conceived that by fulfilling the Duke of Marchmont’s mission in respect to Indora he should be at the same time wreaking his vengeance on her companion. Thus was it that the miscreant was on the present occasion nerved with all his wonted satanic energies for a purpose of tremendous mischief. But Mr. Barnes by no means intended to perpetrate the crime while Indora was walking with one who, even if he did not prove a protector, might at least serve as a defender. He thought it very probable that Indora might presently remain alone in the garden; at all events, he determined to wait. His hiding-place was deeply embowered in foliage, he was buried amidst laurels and bays, and when the dusk should be closing in, that ambush would be perfectly im- penetrable. There were a few moments, however, when the Burker experienced a mortal terror, for a stray dog, entering the grounds, began barking violently in the immediate vicinity of the spot where Barney was concealed. With what bitter imprecations did the miscreant curse the yelping cur, and with what infinite satisfaction would he have driven his long clasp-knife into the brute’s body! The animal stood upon the edge of the border in the midst of which the ever- greens were planted, barking with all its might, so that the circumstance speedily attracted the notice of Queen Indora and Mr. Redcliffe. They advanced close up to the spot; for a moment the Burker dreaded lest Mr. Redcliffe should make a minute inspection of the place, but immense was the miscreant’s relief when that gentleman contented himself with merely driving the animal away. Shortly afterward Mr. Redcliffe took his leave of Queen Indora, and then followed the interview between himself and Sagoonah which has already been described. But in the meantime Barney the Burker continued in his ambush. He had often waited hours for an opportunity to accomplish some deed of evil; he was by no means likely to abandon his present enterprise so long as there might by any proba- bility be a chance of achieving it on this occasion. Besides, as well for him to remain an hour or two more in a place where his safety was comparatively secured than to go wan- EGOMINGIOOKS (CO)