The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

334 REYNOLDS’ WORKS When the Burker awoke in the morning, he found that himself and his companion were the only two persons re- maining in the place; the others had all gone forth on their respective avocations. No breakfast appeared to be forth- coming, and the gossoon made a sign to the Burker to follow him. As they passed by a shop where comestibles were sold, the gossoon pointed to the provisions, then to his own mouth and to that of the Burker, as much as to imply that some of that food should presently find its way into those avenues to the stomach. The Burker was cheered by this intimation, and he followed the gossoon, wondering to what proceedings he was about to address himself in order to procure the means to purchase the inviting provender. Presently the gossoon halted in a somewhat crowded thor- oughfare, and placing his back against a dead wall, he made the Burker stand by his side. Then the gossoon, taking forth his knife, signalled the Burker to do the same, but to draw off the cork from the point. The Burker, watching the proceedings of his leader, hid the knife up his sleeve, and the gossoon began to appeal to the charity of the passers-by. At first it was in a whining tone of entreaty, then it was with howls and lamentations, and he kept nudg- ing the Burker to imitate him. This the Englishman did to the best of his endeavour, and several persons, no doubt struck by the novelty of seeing a European in such a condition, stopped for a moment to contemplate him. But his was a countenance little calculated to excite sym- pathy; the townspeople therefore only shook their heads dubiously, and passed on their way. The gossoon, seeing how matters were going, bent a look of rage upon the Burker, as if to reproach him for the failure of their appeal to the public charity. Nothing could exceed the villainous expression of the dervish’s countenance as his infuriate feelings thus convulsed his features, and his squinting eye darted forth vivid lightnings. The Burker was actually terrified by his companion’s aspect, and he went on howling, yelling, and lamenting more vociferously than ever. Still, however, the passers-by seemed incredulous in respect to the claims of the gossoon and the Burker upon their charity, and thus about a couple of hours elapsed without a single coin being dropped into the outstretched hand of CORNIELOOKS m