The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

354 © REYNOLDS’ WORKS into the Burker’s head. He thought that he might seize the opportunity of gratifying his vengeance and recovering possession of his bag of rupees, with the gossoon’s treasure likewise, all at the same time. His eye settled upon a frag- ment of masonry which lay conveniently near, and which was of dimensions suitable to be wielded for his murderous purpose, when the gossoon, suddenly starting up from the work in which he had been engaged, bent upon the English- man a ferocious look, as if by some extraordinary intuition he had read what was passing in his mind. The Burker scowled, in order to veil his confusion, for he recollected that the gossoon had in every sense the advantage of him, being armed with a weapon, and being physically stronger, as he had proven at the cave in the jungle. All in a moment the Hindu’s appearance changed; he smiled and nodded in the most amicable manner, giving utterance to words which the Burker comprehended were to the effect that they should thenceforth be friends again. He drew forth the stolen bag of rupees from amidst his garments, and tossed the treasure to the Burker. This was a proof of amicable intentions, and the Englishman was rejoiced to regain possession of his portion of the wealth that had been procured by a share in the crime. It struck him that the gossoon entertained the hope that he stood upon the thresh- old of some important discovery in respect to the stone with the ring, and that he felt he could not well act without the assistance or the services of the Burker, and hence his change of demeanour toward him. Again did ideas of a buried treasure troop through the Englishman’s mind, and, willing to enter into a renewed partnership with the gossoon, he proffered his hand. The Hindu took it; the flask was produced from the wallet, and they appeared to vow mutual friendship, each in a dram of the potent spirits. The gossoon, now abandoning the process of picking away the mortar, which seemed an interminable one, for 1t was nearly as hard as the stones which it cemented together, examined the ring with a scrutinizing attention. Presently he began to work the ring about in different ways, and to endeavour to turn it around. In this he at length succeeded, and with but little difficulty he moved the stone, or rather, we should say, not merely the one which contained the ring, but the surrounding smaller ones to which it was. joined. GOMicdooks (E(0)