The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

90 REYNOLDS’ WORKS enough, for he is too deaf to hear the door opening or to catch the sound of your footsteps. But you had better both of you take off your shoes.”’ This counsel was at once followed by the Burker and Bill Scott, and Mrs. Webber, with the light in her hand, now led the way from the kitchen. On reaching the passage where the door of the strong room was, she deposited the candle upon a step of the staircase, and then peeped through the keyhole. As her countenance was again turned toward her two villainous accomplices, its expression of fiendish satisfaction made them aware that circumstances continued favourable to their murderous project. Mrs. Webber now proceeded to raise the latch of the door as noiselessly as she possibly could, and as she gently opened it, Barney and Bill Scott beheld the old man seated with his back toward. them. He had on his dressing-gown, and was placed in an armchair at the head of the table. A single candle lighted the scene within the room; its beams were reflected by the yellow glow which the miser was counting. A couple of bags were likewise in front of him, as well as an open account-book, which showed the precise state of Mrs. Rayner’s affairs, calculated and balanced to the minutest fraction. So absorbed was Anthony Pollard in his task that even if he had been less deaf than he was, he would perhaps have still failed to hear the opening door or the tread of the murderer’s steps —shoeless and stealthy — that were approaching from behind. Barney the Burker advanced first, with his long, sharp dagger in his hand; Bill Scott was immediately behind him, grasping a pistol to be used in case of emergency. Mrs. Webber remained at the door, behind which she half-con- cealed herself, for though iniquitous enough to play her part in the cold-blooded deed, she nevertheless instinctively recoiled from its too near contemplation. Stealthily ad- vanced the Burker toward the unsuspecting old miser, and when at the back of his chair, the villain’s dagger was raised to deal the murderous blow. At that very instant Mrs. Webber gave a start, and the word “‘ Hush!” being almost involuntarily uttered, sounded audibly from her lips. Bill Scott, instantaneously catching it, laid his hand upon the Burker’s shoulder to make him aware that there was something wrong, at the same time that he glanced back EORMICLO@O)