The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 165: what you’re looking at

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154 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. be shrewd and cautious enough not to show any in- convenient sign of recognition. Marchmont entered the cell with the bull’s-eye ; and for a moment holding it so thas ite light fell upon his own features, he darted upon the Burkey a look which enjoined prudence ahd caution: so that Barney, at once taking the hint, and inward! rejoiced at the presence of his Grace, consider that the best thing he could do waq to remgin silent and take his cue from the nobleman. Do you not recollect,” continued Marchmont, “that I stopped and gave you a shilling to-day, when you wero standing in the street ?” “ Well, I think I do,” replied the Burker. * And you remember that I returned,” continued his Grace, “and asked you something about a ring P”’ © Well, I do recollect summit of that also,” was the prisoner’s response. “And you deny having seen thet Hig which £ dropped P”’ “To be sura: cates why I didn't one it." “T know you eaid soat the time,” sontinued the Duke of Marchmont: “ bib I bad my doubts then —and I have thom still more atrohgly unw. Conia, my mah, eoxtfbes the truth, Shak Finig is of na hed to you-———’ “Not a bit,” replied the Burker. | “But it is much valued by mo,” prosecdad Marchmont, “because it was a gift froth a relative who isnow no more. Situated as you atp, un- happy man———” “ Yes—a devilish pretty sitidgtinn it ts,’ agid the Burker. “ Nive easy seat, thid—pldaeatib airy cell—no smell of the drains—plenty of good grub —a bottls of the best wine—and a set of say- nothink-to-nobody kind of fellows that doesn't take you by the scruff of the neck and shove yon along when they wante you to move frols place to place.” . “Come, none of your nonsense, ttoW |” se. claimed the Inspector sharply, as be stood just behind the Duke. “Oh! that’s you, Mr. Jaek-in-office—ia iP” said the Barker. “Pray do not irritate him,” whispeted the Duke hastily to the official, ‘I am sure he has got my ring ; and I think I can do something with him :’—then again turning to the Burker, March- mont said, “Come, my map, it will do you no good to deny the fact.” “Well, Vil tell you what it is,” interrupted Barney, who was at no loss to conjecture that the Duke wanted to speak to him alone: “ if so be as I’ve got summut to tell, I shan’t tell it in the presence of that Jack-in-office. He's insulted me —he’s wounded my feelin’s in thoir most sensitive pint-—" | “ Mr. Inspector,” whispered the Duke, now again hastily turning towards the official, “may I venture to beg that you will just step away from the threshold of the door P” “To be sure, my lord,” responded the officer, who was all obsequiousness. “I do really believe your Grace will manage the fellow yet; but if not, I will have his person searched once more.” “ Meanwhile let me try what I can do,” whis- pered Marchmont. The Inspector instantaneously quitted the thresh- old of the open door, and began pacing to and fro eee Oe eee ee ee eee eee oo in the little yard, purposely making his bonts stamp heavily on the pavement, so as to convinces the Btitker that he was no longer listening. .4C0omé tow, my good man,’ said the Duke, thus speaking it order to keep up appearances in ease the Inspector should overhear what was pass- ing, “ you msy as well give me up that ring; and if money ig now of any service to you, 1 shall cheerfally pay for the restoration pf a jewel on which I se§ so much value.” While thus epeaking, the Duke of Marchmont produced the filo—choosing a moment when the ospector’s footsteps sounded from the extremity of the little yard; and at the same time his Grace bent a significant look upon the Burker. The prisoncr clutched that file—nodded knowingly— and thrust it into his waisteoat-pocket. “Perhaps they will soon search you again ?” hastily whispered the Duke: and then he at once exclaimed aloud, “ This denial is ridiculous! I BOW yoy must have my ring.” “OF cotirse he has,” muttered the Inspeetor, Who exitght those words while turning round close by the doot; “ No—thay won’t search me again,’ wad the fivick whisper which now came from the Burker's B. et tell yoti that it ie useless ¢a persist in this Aisi, ®xclaimed the Duke: then taking a lamond ting from his pocket, he added in a low undet-tone, “ Givo it up to mé ia a few -minntes.” "T tell you £ haven't got it!’ ted the arker as he reésived the ring and n nificantly. “ But all appearances are against you, my man,” fajcined the Duke: then again lowering bis voice, he hastily added, “If you succeed in escaping, write to &%8—and I will send you more money :” —at the satis time he thrust some compactly erushed w cag Seer into the miscreant’s hand. There Was a further semblance of accusation and ramonstrance on the part of the Duke, as well as of a denial on that of the Burker,—until at lengtii thd nobleman, as if yielding to a fit of angry impatience, ejaculated, “It is no use, Mr. Inspector ;: I can do no good with this fellow.” “I was afraid not, my lord,” observed the officer, now returning to the threshold of the door. “ You ought to be ashamed of yourself, to treat his lordship in this manner.” “ His lordship P” ejaculated the Burker : “ how did I know he wasa lord? Yousaid fust of all be wasa genelman.” “It is no less a personage than his Grace the Duke of Marchmont,” replied the Inspector oster;- tatiously. e “ ‘Well—a duke may doa poor devil some good,” said the Burker: “so here goes! Just put your fingers, my lord, inaide my veskit—right under- neath this cussed old gaberdine; and there you'll find a elit in the linin’.” The Duke, handing the bull's-eye to the Inspec- tor, advanced towards the prisoner, and affected to be fumbling amongst his garments in esearch of the place of concealment which had been described. But i¢ was in reality from the waistcoat-pocket that he took the ring; and turning towards the Inspector, the nobleman displayed it with a luok of joyous satisfaction. COMIC DOG