The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

a mem eimmmnammm OO E 42 but he had no particular reason to suspect that he was watched, dogged, or followed. We must however see what had in the meantime been taking place at his own house. Immediately after his departure Bab Smedley took a deep draught from the tumbler whieh she had just filled; and she was sitting in rumination on the topics of their recent discourse,—when a knock at the front door startled the woman from her reverie. It was not a single knock—it was not precisely a double one, in the usual scceptance of the term, which means a series of strokes: but it was some- thing between the two. Bab Smedley took up the candle from the table, and hastened to answer the summons, The person whom she fousd 4 the door was a middle-aged man—of quiet, stdate, respectable appearance — plainly bat decent dreased—and who looked like « dark or sms tradesman. “Are you the mistress of the house?” asked the individual, with a bow that was sufficiently polite. ‘I am, sir,” responded Bab,-—“ and the master too, for that matter!” she thought within her- self: for she experienced an unmitigated contempt for her husband, and the feeling was inseparable from her ideas. “Can I say a few words to you?” asked the stranger. “To be sure!” replied Mrs. Smedley, without however making the slightest mové &@ an invite- tion for the individual to enter. “You have lodgings to let?” fe said; but look. ing about him as much as to ittply that he woald rather speak to her in-doors. “We had, sir,” Mra. Susaloy ltamediately rb. sponded; “but they were let afternoon to a very respectable old couplé that have known us for a great many years.” “ And yet the bill is still up in the window?” said the applicant, stepping back a pace or two to assure himself by another glances that such was the fact. “ Oh, is it P’ said Mrs. Smedley coolly. “Then I forgot to take it down—and I will do so at once. I am sorry you should have hei the trouble, sir aD “Ob, no trouble! But perhaps you may have & spare room—I only want one “No spare room now, sir. Good evenitig to you :”’—and Bab Smedley shut the door in the faca of the applicant, who seemed mich thelined to keep her in discourse. She returned into the parlour, and at once took down the card announcing that lodgings were to be let. She evidently did not much like the visit; and reseating herself, fell inte a gloomy reverie, which was only occasionally interrupted by a re- currence to the spirits-and-water. In about twenty minutes after the little incident we have described, Jack Smedley returned; and Bab at once vented her ill-humour upon him. “What was the use of your keeping that card stuck up in the window? I told you’ more than once that I would not have it; and yet———” “ But, my dear Bab, do hear reason!” inter- rupted ber husband, as he resumed his seat at the tabie. “Yes—when you can talk it, and not before!” exclaimed the vigaro. “But what have you done P” nn Sa he SS Sa THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. “Those hungry dogs,” responded Jack, “ were at the place of appointment, waiting for their weekly money; and I told them where to be the next time it falls due. But don’t you think Bab it is a very hard thing we should have to allow these fellows a pound a week ” “ How can we help ourselves?” demanded Mrs. Smedley. “Isn’t there a warrant out fur Bill Scott’s apprehension? and isn’t he therefore obliged to play at hide-and-seek? and if his brother Tim was to go out prigging in order to keep them both, wouldn’t he be dogged and fol- lowed, so that Bill would be certain to be ar. rested? There’s no doubt it’s hard enough upon us—Dut we can’t help ourselves. As for that card there——” “Now do listen, Bab!”’ said her husband en- treatingly. “When that cursed busin&s dt Liver- pool exploded, and your mother got into her present trouble, weren’t we obliged to do all we could to keep up the appearance of our own respecta- bility? Didn’t we assure the neighbours that it was totally impossible Mrs. Webber could have eommitted the deed—that there was some terrible inistake—and that her innocence would transpire on the trial ?” “ And the neighbours don’t believe us,” inter- jected Bab, sullenly. “No—I’m sorty to say they don’t altogether believe us,” responded her husband; “ or at least don’t know exactly what to think. They speak cool and look distant: but I do my best to ride it with a high hand, and seem as if I did not notice their altered behaviour. Well, I advised that the card should be kept up in the window as asual, just as if we felt our own respectability to be totally unimpaired, and ds if we were at least conscious of our own innocence. Besides, the keeping up of the ecard was only « blind: for we agteed that we would not let the lodgings even if anybody applied: because you and 1 have always eo many thitige to talk about now, and we must ot stand the ehanee of being oterheard. And then too, the Burkef may turn up at any moment —for Barney is such 4 desperate fellow, he’s almost certain to fihd his way to on—and if he does, he would bé sute te come to us, the worst lack on it!” “There'd enough!” ejaculated Mrs. Smedley. “Some one has beet to apply for the lodgings; and I don't like his appetrance a bit, I ean tell Jou.’ “Whol” asked the goldbeater, with s look fall of startled atixiecty. “Ah! who?’ ejaculated Bab. “How do I know? Bat who should come prying about this place here, and trying on all sorte of dodges to get im atnongst us for more reasons than ote ” “Do you—do you think he was s—a—dctee- tive?” asked Jack Smediey, with an awful elonga- tion of his pale countenance. “Ae like as tot!” rejoined Bab petalantly. “However, I stalled him off-—-I told him the lodgings were let to a decent old couple—I was precious short with him—and I shut the door. Now, the fact is, Jack, things can’t go on like this: Iam getting uncommon tired of living con- stantiv on the fidgets——” ‘* Not more tired than me, I know!” exclaimed her husband. “ Didn’t I propose a bolt to France COMIC MOO cS) eee CO