The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

248 REYNOLDS’ WORKS their lives, Mr. Fossilton took a knife and proceeded deliber- ately to cut the cords which retained the green baize so closely wrapped around the glass case. Then he took a pair of scissors, and began to cut away the green baize from the top; because, inasmuch as it was folded two or three times around the case, he would have had to lift the case itself to remove the baize unless he adopted this shorter and easier plan of cutting it. He was very careful in the operation, for fear of breaking the glass lid, and, as the reader will comprehend, when he had cut one fold length- ways, he had to do precisely the same to each successive layer of the enveloping cloth. Proceeding thus deliberately, Mr. Fossilton did not choose to take a peep into the case until the proper moment should arrive, when he could at one slance embrace the entire contents therof. He did not wish to anticipate the pleasure which he flattered himself he was about to enjoy. Thus slowly and gradually did he prosecute his work, in a methodical manner, until the last fold of the wrapper was cut through, and the whole of the baize fell away from the lid of the box. ‘Dear me!” ejaculated Mr. Fossilton, and he peered in mingle astonishment and dismay over the object which now met his view. ‘ This is very strange, very strange indeed! Why — how — what — eh?” It certainly did not look ike a mummy. The dress was white, there was a sort of turban on the head, the com- plexion of the individual was quite dark, there was a mous- tache upon the lip. Surely this was no mummy! And yet what else could it be? The eyelids were closed; motion- less as the dead lay the Burker. Mr. Fossilton stooped lower down, and looked closer and closer into the case, or rather we should say, through the glass lid. If this were a mummy it was the most extraordi- nary one, as well as the freshest, he had ever seen. Had Bealby deceived him? No, this was scarcely possible, be- cause he had given him back his money, he had left himself at his mercy in respect to payment; everything seemed quite honourable, straightforward, and proper on that in- dividual’s part. Ah! a sudden thought struck Mr. Fossilton. Mr. Bealby had prepared for him a great surprise. How kind of Bealby, how good of him! Doubtless 1t was some wondrous novelty in the sphere of what we may term ECORNIClIOO KS (E(0)