The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 130: what you’re looking at

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i { is ( | hs | a a a ee ee re 124 incident took place ; and a cry of terror ascended from that depth. Then the next moment the gold-beater was seen rushing up the steps as if he were demented—his hair standing on end—his countenance ghastly pale—his lips white—his eyes rolling with horror. “You fool, you !” muttered his wife, clutching him violently by the arm, and giving him a sayage shake: ‘ you'll make yourself heard yet before you have done !” It must be observed that Barney the Burker had not let the corpse fall through any access of panic-terror—but merely that he might rush up- stairs and ascertain the cause of that strange sweeping sound which had reached the ears of those in the scullery. But on opening the door and listening, he found that all was stiail. “Give me a light,’ he said, “and I'll go over the house just for your saytisfaction : cos why, none of you seem able to do it for yourselves.” A candle was immediately supplied him by one of the lads; and the instant he appeared in the ground-floor passage with that light, the rushing sound was heard again—and an enormous cat which had been crouching on the mat, sprang up the stairs to the higher storeys. The Burker gave a chuckling laugh; and descending to the scullery, closed the door, saying, “It’s on’y a great big black cat that’s got into the house.” “Tt’s the people’s at the beer-shop,” exclaimed Bab Smedley. “ But isn’t it strange,’ asked the gold-beater, who was shuddering all over, “that the brute should cut about the house like that? Doesn’t it seem as if it knew what had been done ?”’—and with his haggard eyes he glanced towards the mouth of the vault. “Well, I des say there’s summut like instink in the affair,’ said the Burker coolly: “ but as cats can’t speak, they can’t tell no tales—and so we needn’t bother ourselves any more about the matter. Come, Jack, take a drop of brandy; and don’t make such a fool of yourself as you seem to be doing. Why, I can’t make out what’s come over you all on a sudden, that you have got so precious chicken-hearted. It isn’t a werry good example you're setting them lads. Where’s the quicklime ?” “ All ready down below,’ responded Bab Smedley : then addressing herself to her husband, she said savagely, “There, toss off that brandy, and bea man! I’m ashamed of you !” The gold-beater drank the raw spirit which his wife handed him ; and his courage speedily revived “ Come now, my boys, and lend a hand below,” said the Burker : “ you must ’custom yerselves to get familiar with stiff uns. You come too, Jack.” The gold-beater and the Burker descended ' into the vault, with a candle—the two Scotts . following with readiness and alacrity. A spade | and pickaxe were in the pit—a hole was speedily dug, sufficiently large to receive the corpse—a quantity of quicklime was thrown upon it—the earth was shovelled back—it was well flattened down, so as to make the bottom of the subterranean level—and thus the work was accomplished. The trap-door was closed—the carpet was drawn over it—the table was restored to its place—quan- tities of spirits-and-water were mixed—and the -_ se hc Chr lh - >: OO ee - eS eS THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. wretches caroused above the spot to which their victim had been consigned. The Burker and Bab Smedley ascended to the chamber where the deed was accomplished: they ransacked the contents of the carpet-bag—but they found no papers of any kind—no farther hoard of money. But on the drawers was a very handsome repeater-watch, together with a gold pencil-case and two or three rings. These valuables were of course taken pos- session of ; and the two wretches descended to rejoin their companions. A division of the booty now took place—more grog was drunk—and it was past two in the morning when the Burker and the Scotts took their departure, at intervals of a few minutes, by means of the back part of the premises and the narrow alley by the side of the chapel. “You behaved like a fool to-night,” said Bab Smedley to her husband, when they were at length alone together in their own chamber. “T can’t tell what it was that came over me when we were all three together at his deor,” said the gold-beater. ‘‘ And then the affair in the vault was horrible enough! To have that corpse come tumbling down upon one was sufficient to make the hair stand on end. And mind you, Bab —you were not altogether yourself to-night: you were frightened up at the door—and you were frightened again too by the noise of that cursed cat.” “ Well, there’s enough of it!” said the woman sharply: for her husband had spoken truly, and she herself had been more accessible to terror on this particular night than on the occasion of any previous deed of iniquity. “T tell you what, Bab,” said the gold-beater, looking somewhat nervously around the room, and speaking in the half-hushed voice which denoted a certain inward appalled feeling : “‘ 1 don’t like that affair of the cat—there was something superstitious in it—it was the animal’s instinct !” “Now, will you have done?” demanded Bab Smedley, turning with sudden fierceness round upon her husband: but her own face was as chastly pale as his was—and as their eyes met he saw that she was under the same superstitious terror as that which was awing and appalling his own soul. ——E——> CHAPTER XXIV. THE LISTENER. A WEEK had elapsed since the occurrences just related ; and curing this interval the Hon. Wilson Stanhope had called three or four times, and had dined twice at Marchmont House. He was a man of about five-and-thirty years of age—handsome, though with a somewhat dis- sipated and rakish look. He had been for some years in the Horse Guards; and although his necessities had compelled him to sell his com- mission, he still affected to a certain degree a military appearance: that is to say, he continued to wear his moustache. His features were regular, but somewhat bold and prominent: the expression of his countenance was decidedly sensuous. His hair was light: his eyes were large, and had a com CORNIECOOOKS aa eri er’