The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

AAW >| 236 REYNOLDS’ WORKS tosee you. He has sent out to hire a cart to take the mummy up to your house,” continued the garrulous landlady. ‘I dare say it will be here in a few minutes.” “ Excellent!’ ejaculated Mr. Fossilton. ‘‘ Do you know, ma’am, there is food in that mummy —” “Food in the mummy, sir?” cried the landlady, almost shrieking out in her astonishment. ““T mean food for the mind, my dear madam,’ responded the archeologist, — “‘ food for a disquisition of at least six hours. Oh, the pleasure of unfolding the wrappings of that mummy! But I believe that I am to hand over the price to you? ”’ ; ‘Well, not exactly, sir,” replied the landlady. ‘‘ Circum- stances is now changed. Mr. Bealby is a very honourable gentleman, he has paid me my rent — But pray walk up, sir; he is just going to sit down to his breakfast, and his friend Mr. Limber—a very nice young gentleman, who brought him the money — will be back in a few minutes.”’ Bealby had heard the double knock at the front door, and at first he had thought it was Limber, who might have for- gotten to take the latch-key. But when two or three min- utes elapsed and Ben did not make his appearance, Mr. Bealby began to get uneasy lest inquiries were being made relative to the Burker. He did not dare leave his apart- ments to step out upon the landing to listen, much less to steal down-stairs to see who it was because Mary was run- ning to and fro, preparing the breakfast; he knew her to be inquisitive, and he feared that she might be seized with the inclination to draw aside the green baize and peep into the coffin-like box in order to see how the mummy looked when lying flat upon its back. Thus Bealby was kept in a state of anxiety for several minutes, until he at length recognized the footsteps and then the voice of Mr. Fossilton as he ascended the stairs in company with the landlady. Mr. Bealby foresaw that he should have some difficulty in respect to this visit, for Fossilton might ask to have another look at the mummy before he concluded the bargain, or he might insist upon taking it away with him; and Bealby, well acquainted with his landlady’s garrulous disposition, was quite certain she had already acquainted him with the sup- posed fact that the mummy was in readiness for such im- mediate transport to its destination. However, Mr. Bealby CORNICLIOOKS (E(O) im