The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARCHAOLOGIST 251 that you arterward turned around upon me, ’cos why I didn’t come up to the mark in the cash department.”’ “ Good heavens! what a distressing position for a man like me to be placed in! ’’ moaned the miserable archzologist, giving way to his lamentations. ‘“ Miserable position! miserable, miserable! ”’ “Not a bit on’t,” replied the Burker. ‘‘ All you’ve got to do is to hold your tongue, and nobody will be the wiser.”’ “ Well, I won’t say a word, don’t be afraid, but for Heaven’s sake go!’ said Mr. Fossilton, imploringly. ‘ Go, and I will forget that you have ever been here, that I have ever seen you. But if this isn’t the last time that 1 bargain for mummies.” “To be sure! You'll know a trick worth two of that,” ejaculated the Burker, with a chuckling laugh. ‘“ Now just let me sit down and write a bit of a note, and then I'll take myself off.’’ | The miserable archeologist pointed to a table on which there were writing materials; the Burker coolly seated himself, and proceeded to commit a few lines to paper. Though the billet was short, yet the process of writing it was somewhat a tedious one, inasmuch as Barney was a very indifferent penman, and thus, during the ten minutes he was engaged with his correspondence, Mr. Fossilton sat in a perfect agony of dread and horror. To be there with a murderer, there with one who might suddenly turn around and murder him, the thought was hideous. The poor archezologist’s brain was in a perfect whirl, and he bitterly repented his dealings with Mr. Bealby. But the Burker really had no intention of harming the old man; he saw that it was easy to intimidate him, and that the effect of this intimidation would not speedily wear off. The note was concluded; it was folded up, sealed, and duly addressed to the personage for whom it was intended, and the Burker secured it about his person. Then rising from his seat, he surveyed himself in a looking-glass, and he felt convinced that his present disguise of a Lascar was, if anything, more perfect than even that of a Jew which he had so recently worn. “ Now, you understand, old genelman,” he said, turn- ing toward the archeologist, ‘the conditions on which we separate. You hold your tongue about me, and I shall EGOMINGIOOKS (CO)