The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

96 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ““ My name is Lettice Rodney,” replied the young woman. “IT met Mrs. Rayner — ”’ “ And you are not Mrs. Rayner? ” said the housekeeper, in hurried inquiry. “No, and you all along knew that I was not. Oh, there is Mr. Pollard — Gracious heavens!” screamed Lettice, as her eyes were riveted upon the dagger which still remained between his shoulders; and smitten with the horrible, the overwhelming conviction that murder had been done, she fell down senseless at the foot of the staircase. “There let her be. We'll divide the swag and bolt,” said the Burker. “ It isn’t worth while to do her a mischief anyhow.” ““Stop!’”’ said Mrs. Webber, as an idea of devilish in- genuity flashed in unto her mind. ‘‘ We may save ourselves from all danger, and I need not scamper out of the country over to France.”’ “What do you mean?’”’ demanded the Burker and Bill Scott, as if both speaking in the same breath. ‘“ Never do you mind,” responded Mrs. Webber. ‘‘ Leave it all to me—I know what I am about. Take charge of the swag, Barney —I know I can trust you for my share. You’ll get up to London as quick as you can, and you'll give it to my daughter Bab — but not to Jack, mind! not to Jack.” ‘ All right, marm,’’ responded the Burker. ‘‘ Come along, Bill, and let’s be off.”’ : The three wretches, satisfied that Lettice Rodney was in a profound swoon, from which she would not very readily awaken, returned into the strong room; and the two men took possession of all the gold and bank-notes, with the exception of fifty sovereigns which Mrs. Webber desired them to leave as a means of enabling her to carry out the objects which she had in view. Barney and Bill Scott then took their departure by the same way in which they had entered, Mrs. Webber carefully closing and securing the yard gate as well as the back door when they were gone. On reéntering the house, she found Lettice still lying in- sensible at the foot of the stairs. She approached the corpse of her master, took his purse from his pocket, put into that purse the fifty sovereigns which she had kept back, and then, while Lettice still continued in a state of unconsciousness, deposited the purse in the young woman’s pocket. CORnlCcoookK