The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 399: what you’re looking at

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

370 REYNOLDS’ WORKS upon him, for it was intimated that his personal appearance did not warrant the idea that he possessed any such resources of his own, or at least did not justify the belief that he had honestly come by them. Thinking that the money would never be restored to him, and that he had better boldly renounce all ownership of it, the Burker declared that the two bags of new rupees had likewise been entrusted to him by the mahout. When all these statements were inter- preted to the officer of peons, the elephant-driver bent a look of reproach upon the Burker, evidently to accuse him of the blackest ingratitude in endeavouring to shift all the blame from his own shoulders to those of his companion. It was quite clear to the Englishman that his statements were completely at variance with those made by the mahout, for the examining police official shook his head incredulously, and issued some order to his underlings. This mandate was promptly obeyed, for the Burker and the elephant-driver were hurried into an adjacent room, and here the horrified eyes of the Englishman fell upon implements of torture similar to those which he had seen at the town whence he was expelled with so significant a warning. As for the mahout, he folded his arms and contemplated the torture- instruments with a courageous resignation. The Burker was the first to be subjected to the torturing process, the interpreter standing near to receive whatsoever revelations might be extracted from his lips. The kitiee was applied to his fingers; the excruciation was exquisite, and under the influence thereof he confessed the whole truth in respect to the discovery of the buried treasure. With regard to the two bags of rupees, — which, as’ the reader will recollect, were obtained by the murder of the ryot, — the Burker declared that he had found them on the person of a gossoon who was killed by a tiger. The mahout was next subjected to the torture, and the truth was speedily elicited from his lips. It was now found that the two tales corresponded, but by way of punishing the prisoners, a severe beating was inflicted upon them with sticks and whips. The Burker howled horribly; the Hindu exhibited far more courage in enduring the chastisement. The officer of peons then pronounced a decision in the case, which was duly interpreted to the Burker. It was to the effect that the treasure which had been found belonged CORNICE YOOLKKS (E() ——————————— |