The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

200 REYNOLDS’ WORKS and the inspector had quitted the cell before the prisoner, now convinced that everything was again quiet, began to file away. at one of the handcuffs. The operation of severing the iron was not a very long one, although he had to work somewhat at a disadvantage from the fact that his two hands were kept by the connecting chain inconveniently close together. But when one ring was thus sundered, and that hand was free, the other mannacle was more expe- ditiously eaten through with the biting teeth of the file. Scarcely was this task accomplished, and just as the Burker was beginning to rub in gleefulness the hands that were thus liberated, when he heard the door of the little yard open. To slip his hands through the rings again, to conceal the file, to stretch himself upon the bench, and to begin to breathe with, a heavy regularity as well as with a certain nasal sound, —all these were the work of a moment. But still the Burker was seized with dire alarm lest any official should enter the dungeon to examine whether his handcuffs were all right. He heard heavy footsteps ap- proaching; they stopped at the door of his cell, and then the trap was pushed open. The light of a bull’s eye was thrown through that trap into the cell, and it streamed full upon Barney’s countenance. He affected to wake up slowly, and rubbing his eyes, growled forth, ‘‘ What the devil did you do that for? Why can’t you let a feller sleep? ” ‘TI only wanted to see that you were all right,’”’ answered the constable, who was peeping through the trap. _ “ All right indeed! ”’ responded the Burker, still in a growl- ing tone. “ I rayther think that I’m all wrong, and so you’d fancy, too, my fine feller, if you was locked up in this cussed place. Why, it took me half an hour to compose myself to sleep on this hard plank, and now you’ve woke me up, it’ll take me another blessed half-hour to go off again.” ‘IT didn’t mean to disturb you,’ answered the officer, ‘and that’s the reason that I looked through the ~ in- stead of opening the door.” “Well, you’re a considerate genelman in your way,” joined Barney, “‘ but I don’t think as how the tax-payers a this blessed country gives you chaps twenty bob a week apiece to come waking up respectable people which is taking their natural rest. Howsomever, I forgive you for one, and so now good night.” ECORNICIIOOKS (E(0)