The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

THE MUMMY’S CASE 237 hoped that the difficulty occasioned by Fossilton’s visit might be speedily surmounted by his own ready wit, and he therefore prepared himself for the emergency. ‘“T am sure I did right to tell you to walk up, sir,” said the landlady, who since she had received her rent was all civility, and was now prepared to make herself most officiously obliging. “‘ Mr. Bealby will be quite charmed to see you. You will find the mummy already packed up — ”’ ‘Well, well, ma’am,” said Mr. Fossilton, ‘‘ you have told me so two or three times, and I have no doubt it is the case. How do you do, Mr. Bealby? ”’ ‘“‘ How do you do, my dear sir? ” cried the younger arche- ologist. ‘‘ Pray walkin. Your visit is an early one. I am sorry to say I am excessively busy just at this moment.” “Busy in getting your breakfast?’ said Mr. Fossilton. ‘“ But that won’t prevent us from settling our little bargain. I have brought the money, and I understand your friend has gone for the cart.” “Here it is!’’ exclaimed the officious landlady, rushing to the window, as she heard the sounds of the vehicle stop- ping at her front door. ‘‘ Ah! but I have a few other goods to remove first,’’ said Mr. Bealby, ‘‘ and the mummy shall come next. You need not pay me now, Mr. Fossilton; I will bring you up the mummy in the course of the day, a few hours indeed — ”’ ‘“ My dear sir,” interrupted the old archeologist, ‘“‘ I have set my mind upon having it at once. I have walked down from Tavistock Square at this early hour on purpose to see you. You can let me have this cart, and your friend can hire another.” ““T can do nothing of the sort,” said Mr. Bealby, who was getting uncommonly anxious, though he dared not for the life of him betray his uneasiness. ‘‘I must remove some goods first — ”’ ‘Stop, there is another cart,’ ejaculated the landlady, “and it is a man which I know and which sells pertaties. Mary,” she shrieked forth from the landing to which she flew, “stop that pertatie person, and say I have got him a job.” | : “ What the devil does all this mean?’’ demanded Ben Limber, as he now made his appearance. ‘I have hired a cart, and made a capital bargain.” CORNICLOOKS (CO)