The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXV THE GOSSOONS Havinc slaked his thirst, which was poignant and most oppressive, for his parched lips were cracked with the fever- heat of his blood, and his tongue was as dry as if he had been swallowing some of the embers of the now extinct fire, the Burker was returning to the mouth of the cavern to await in hope the gossoon’s awakening, when he espied another human form approaching from a little distance. This speedily proved to be a man of the same sect as the Hindu who had already become the Burker’s companion. He was a mendicant gossoon more wretchedly clad if possible, more filthy in person, and more repulsive in his looks, than even the other. He was upwards of sixty years of age, and ex- ceedingly tall, without any stoop, but with a frame so emaciated that it was painful to contemplate the parts which his rags left bare. He had a look half-savage, half-austere, and he growled upon the Burker as if regarding him as an intruder in that spot. Without however taking any further notice of him, this old gossoon proceeded straight to the cavern, and the Burker, following, perceived that the other itinerant suddenly woke up, as if with the instinctive knowledge that an expected friend was at hand. Their greetings were, however, sullenly and moodily exchanged, and the newcomer almost imme- diately produced a bag which he carried hidden amongst his rags. Thence he took forth rice, fruits, and fragments of coarse barley bread, and the two gossoons began to eat with a ravenous appetite. The Burker, half-famished, advanced in a supplicating manner toward them, and then the younger gossoon began telling his comrade something which the Burker speedily understood to be a narrative | 319 GOMIIGDOG S) (C(O)