The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

THE LIBRARY 137 lady had given a sort of skreek when I fust busted out upon her, I in course thought it had been heerd indoors and the servants was a-coming to see what it all meant. So I’d only just time to draw out my clasp-knife from the wound — which was a precious deep one, I know — and then I scud away as fast as my legs could carry me. Now your Grace knows everything, and you may give me my reward.” The duke was in the act of drawing forth his purse, which was crammed with gold and bank-notes, when a strange rustling noise, apparently coming from behind the screen or the closed draperies of one of the windows, fell upon the ears of both himself and the Burker. They started up with dis- may in their looks, but this feeling was expressed with a far more ghastly and horror-stricken aspect on the part of the nobleman than on that of the assassin. For a few instants the duke stood irresolute, a prey to the most agonizing torture; then rushing toward the screen, dashed it aside, seized upon the window-draperies and tore them asunder. A faint shriek rang forth, and he beheld a lady who was a total stranger to him. An ejaculation of ferocious rage dropped from the lips of the Burker, and his hand was al- ready clutching his clasp-knife, when the lady fell upon her knees, murmuring, ‘ For Heaven’s sake spare me! spare me, I beseech you! Your secret is safe! ”’ Horror at all that she had heard and wild terror at the menacing aspect of the Burker, were blended in her looks. The Duke of Marchmont was well-nigh distracted; all the most frightful perils appeared to be environing him. His brain grew dizzy, his sight became dim, he reeled back a few paces, as if intoxicated with wine. ‘Dismiss this dreadful man! — for Heaven’s sake send him away!”’ said the lady, accosting the duke with looks that in terror appealed to him, while with horror they shrank from the ferocious gaze of the Burker. ‘‘I have heard nothing —I mean,’ she continued, confusedly, and in a dreadfully excited manner, ‘‘ I will keep silent, I will not betray anything, no, not for the world.” Encouraged by this assurance, and aroused to sudden energy by the desperation of the horrible circumstances In which he found himself placed, the Duke of Marchmont quickly drew forth his purse and a key, and he said to the Burker, ‘‘ Here, depart. There is more than the reward lI COMMICOO© cS (CO)