The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

242 REYNOLDS’ WORKS courteously designated him. The mummy was thrust back into the trunk, the trunk was taken upon the shoulders of the potato person, who, preceded by the indignant Mr. Fos- silton, began to ascend the stairs toward Mr. Bealby’s apart- ments. | The little scene which we have described from the moment of the tilting up of the cart, to that when the unfortunate mummy was being borne back to him who had manufactured and vended it, occupied about five minutes. Let us see what in the interim had taken place in the apartments of Bealby himself. From his window the fabricator of curiosities had observed the catastrophe, and he had seen the cobbler emerge from the public-house. In him he recognized the very man of whom he had bought the old leather which formed one of the component parts of the mummy. Then he perceived his friend Mr. Benjamin Limber vanishing from the scene, and he felt convinced that some disturbance would ensue. ‘“ Deuce take it!’ he exclaimed, retreating from the win- dow, and hastening back to the case in which the Burker was confined. ‘‘ Here’s an accident. The cart has upset, the mummy has tumbled out —I think the trick is dis- covered.’ ‘ What trick? ”’ exclaimed the Burker, with so sudden a start, convulsively given inside the case, that it was a wonder he did not smash the glass lid above him. “ Nothing about you,’ replied Bealby, hastily. ‘‘ That cursed mummy I mean!” and back again he ran to the window. “ As I live, that old scoundrel Fossilton is having the mummy brought back. I shall be compelled to disgorge the twenty pounds.”’ ‘“‘T say,” vociferated the Burker from the glass case, “‘ I’ve had enough of this — I can stand it no longer. Just let me out. My limbs 1s all cramped, a hundred million needles and pins is a pricking my feet. Let me out, I say, or I shall be sufficated.”’ ‘Stop! an idea strikes me,” ejaculated Bealby. ‘‘ What if I get old Fossilton to take you off to his house— But no; it will never do.” ‘‘ And why not?” asked the Burker. ‘“ Blowed if I don’t think it’s the best thing to be done. Just leave me to manage the old rogue when I do get to his house — ” ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)