The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. convinced him of the impolicy of thie proceeding. 149 wrapped in a piece of paper; and as she delibe- In the first place, the Burker might pwesibly | rately opened this paper, the Burker’s eye caught escape : Smedley was not well acquainted with this | sight of the name of Smedley amongst the printed particular quarter of the town, and he knew not what bye-streets might lead off from the main one along which Barney was now proceeding. And then again, it was just possible that it might not be Barney at all—but a veritable Hebrew who had happened to wear a costume precisely similar to that which Smedley had lent to his accomplice. All these considerations passed with lightning speed through the mind of the gold-beater ; and for a fow instants he was bewildered how toact. A thought however struck him; and he accosted Jonathan Carnabie. “ You were talking to that old Jow ’ he said, with quick utterance. “I was buying pastilles of him,” responded the sexton, somewhat startled by this abrupt address from a total stranger. “Did you see nothing queer in his look, sir ?” demanded Jack—“ nothing of a hang-dog expres- sion of countenance ?” “ Well, I did not take particular notice,” replied Jonathan: “but now that you mention the cir- cumstance ” “ Did he look like a Jew, sir?” exclaimed Jack Smedley. “ Bus did you happen to notice whether there was a rent in the front part of his gaberdine —just about here ?’’--and the gold-beater indicated the left breast of his own coat. “To be eure !” rejoined the old sexton: “I did obseerveit. Bat what——” “e's all right, then!” ejaculated Smedley. “And now, sir, pray be good enough to hasten back after that Jew—just get him into conversa- tion—do anything to engage his attention for a few minutes! He is an old scamp—the police are looking for him—but don’t let him know that there is anything suspicious !” ‘Dear me!” said Jonathan; “ what a place this London is!” . “Pray be off, sir, and do as I ask you! You will have time to overtake him! There! he is etopping !—a woman is buying something of him! Be off with you, sir—and keep him engaged for a few minutes !” Jonathan Carnabie accordingly retraced his way --while Jack Smedley, full of feverish suspense, again looked round in search of a_ policeman. Meanwhile the Burker, thankful at having got rid of the Woodbridge sexton, had been beating a re- treat as fast as his assumed character of an old Jew would permit him to proceed; and he was near the extremity of the street when he was stopped by an elderly dame who began to bargain with him for some pastilles. The Burker inwardly vented his rage at being thus detained, by means of a bitter imprecation; and he gruffly bade the dame take as many pastilles as she chose and pay for them exactly what she liked. But she was a slow-going old creature: she counted a pile of pastilles with the utmost deliberation; and then she fumbled in her pocket for some halfpence to pey for the purchase. The Burker—who had plenty of money about him, and cared not one fig for the expected halfpence—was ready to burst with impatience: but he dared not even for an instant do aught that might create a suspicion. contents thereof. Then he beheld his own name; and the words “the mercy of the Crown ” likewise met his view. “‘ Here, my poor old man—here’s thrippence for you,” said the dame; “and I'm eure I hope the money will do you as much good as if you was a Christian.” | “Please to leave it wespped up in the paper, ma'am,” said the Burker: “it’s rayther more con- wenient to carry.” . ** Well, eo it be,” said the dame, who was dis- posed to be particularly loquacious. “I got the change just now in paying my weekly bill at the baker’s. And what do you think? While I was a-standing quite promiscuous-like a-talking at the counter, in comes a policeman and pitches a pecket of handbills; and he says, says he, ‘I say, Mr. Oatoake, just distribute these amung your customers—mure partikler amung them as brings bekin’s, because it’s the poorer orders.’ ” “To be sure ma’am!”’ said the Burker, growing desperately impatient. “Beg your pardon—but T've got a little appintment with our Rabbi at the “Oh! I won’é detain you, my good man,” con- tinued the dame. “I was only going to say that when the policeman left the shop, Mr. Oatcake says, says he, ‘These bills come in precious handy» to wrap up halfpence.’” “No doubt of it, ma’am!”—and the Burker, now unable to restrain his impationce any longer, snatched the handbill from her grasp and burst away from her. “ Well, I never did see a poor old Jew like that take such long strides before!” said the dame to herself, as she stood for some moments looking after the Burker. “ But poor man! he’s no doubt very particular in saying his prayers reglar, and is pretty nigh as good as a Christian after all.” Meanwhile the Burker was pursuing his way; and with the little handbill laid upon his tray, was reading ite contents. “ Here's a pretty go!” he said to himself. “If the Government is a man of any feelin’, he ought to be ashamed of hisself to try and bribe a fellow to turn round upon his pals.” At the same time it was with no very pleasurable sensations that Mr. Barnes perused the handbill : for he saw thereby that the authorities were terri- bly earnest in their pursuit of him. Moreover, his thoughts speedily riveted themselves upon Jack Smedley; and he said to himself, “ It’s high time I should hook it! The appintment with the Duke can’t werry well be kept. I must show London a clean pair of heels afore I’m an hour older.” But at this moment he felt a tap upon his shoulder; and turning round with a stert that made his unsold pastilles dance upon the tray, he beheld Jonathan Carnabie again. The Burker could scarcely restrain himeelf from knocking the old man down and then taking to bis heels: but a glance towards the end of the street showed him that several persons were passing, and he dared not thus rashly thrust his head into the lion’s mouth. It struck him that there was something The old dame drew out a small packet of halfpence | singular in the old sexton’s look ; and then too, ee ene 0 GOnNGIOOKSHeOn