The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

UNCONSCIOUS REVELATIONS 331 her with a sudden terror. The aspect of the individual was alone sufficient to strike her with this dismay, but it was all the greater when the conviction rushed in unto her mind that she beheld before her the ruffian of the previous night’s adventure. ‘The Lascar’s dress was just the same as it struck Christina to be when the fellow, having opened the door of the carriage, snatched the purse from her brother’s hand, — the same too as he subsequently described it to her. We need hardly add that the wretch was the Burker, but it may be proper to observe that he now at once recognized Christina, for he had seen her walking in the queen’s garden at the time he was on the watch to consummate his mur- derous purpose. For a few moments Christina’s tongue was paralyzed with dismay, and she could not give vent to the scream which rose up in her throat. The Burker, who carried a bludgeon in his hand, burst out into a coarse, chuckling laugh, and said, ‘‘ You’re an uncommon pretty gal, and it would be a sin to frighten you. Come, young miss, just hand us over your purse, as well as that there gold watch and chain, and there’s nuffin’ more to be said.” Christina swept her eyes up and down the lane, but no one was to be seen except the ruffian who stood before her, and the nearest houses were too far off to be reached by a scream if she sent one pealing forth from her lips. She was frightened, she was dismayed; the Burker grew im- patient, and in astill more savage tone than that in which he had before spoken, he exclaimed, ‘‘ Out with the purse, off with the chain, or by jingo I'll help myself! ”’ The imprecation was, however, more terrible than the comparatively moderate one which we have inserted in its place, and Christina was sinking with terror, when it struck her that she heard the sounds of a horse’s hoofs at a distance. Inspired by the hope of aid, she darted away from the spot, but the ruffan was immediately at her heels, and in a few moments he violently seized her by her dress. Her screams rang forth as she struggled desperately with the miscreant, and all of a sudden a horseman appeared around the corner of a diverging lane. The Burker’s ear had not caught the same sounds which had heralded this approach of succour to that of Christina, and he was suddenly stricken with alarm on beholding this unexpected appearance. For he in a moment CORnnICLOOKS (CO)