 66 The Reader at all acquainted with German literature may probably remember some of those old tales of demonology and witchcraft in which assemblies of jovial revelers are frequently dismayed and overawed by the sudden entrance of some mysterious stranger, perhaps a knight in black armor with his visor closed or a monk with his cult drawn over his continents. If the recollection of such an episode in the sphere of romance recurred to the reader's mind, he will have no difficulty in comprehending as when we state that the presence of the short, thick-set middle-aged stranger caused an immediate damp to fall upon the spirits of the company in the dark-house parlour. The stranger seemed to take no notice of anyone present, but drank his grog, lighted his cigar, and settled himself in his seat, apparently with the view of making himself very comfortable. Still, there was something sinister and mysterious about this man, which did not exactly please the other inmates of the room. And as we cannot suppose that the consciences of these persons were overpure, the least appearance of ambiguity to them was an instantaneous omen of danger, like the dog that sensed the corpse of the murdered victim even when buried deep in the earth, those wretches possessed an instinct marvellously sensitive and acute in perceiving the approach or presence of peril. And yet, to a common beholder, there was nothing very remarkable about that stranger. He was a plain-looking, quiet, shabbily-dressed person and one who seemed anxious to smoke his cigar in peace, and neither speak nor be spoken to. Good reader, it was the reserve of this man, his staid and serious demeanor, his tranquil continents, and his exclusive manner altogether that created the unpleasant impression we have described. Had he entered the room with the swagger, banged the door behind him, sworn at the waiter or nodded to one single individual present, he would have produced no embarrassing sensation whatever. But he was unknown. What, then, could he do there, where all were well known to each other? However, he continued to smoke with his eyes intently fixed upon the bluish reefs that ascended slowly and fantastically from the end of his cigar, and for five minutes after his entrance not a word was spoken. At length the coal-whipper broke silence. Well, my dear, he said addressing himself to the unfortunate girl who had already narrated a portion of her adventures. You haven't done your story yet. Oh, I do not feel in the humor to go on with it tonight, she exclaimed, glancing uneasily toward the stranger. Indeed, I recollect, I have an appointment, close by. She hesitated, then apparently mustering up her courage, cried, Good night all, and left the room. Who the dunce is that feller, Tony, demanded the cracksman, in a whisper of his companion, I can't say I like his appearance at all. Oh, nonsense, answered the resurrection man. He is some quiet chap that doesn't like to smoke and talk at the same time. But don't it seem as how he'd throw it a damp on the whole party, continued the cracksman in the same seduced tone? Do you take me for a child that's frightened at a shadow, said the resurrection man savagely? I suppose you're afraid that this young Holford will play us false. Why, what could he do to us? Anything he revealed would only implicate himself. He knows nothing about our games up by the birdcage walk there. I forgot that. No more he doesn't, cried the cracksman. There are nobody can do us any harm that I know on. One and one only answered the resurrection man, sinking his already seduced tone to the lowest possible whisper. One only, I say, it can injure us, and he will not dare to do it. Who the devil do you mean, demanded the cracksman? I mean the only man that ever escaped out of the crib up by the walk after he'd received a blow from my stick, through the resurrection man. You don't mean to say, Tony, whispered the cracksman as continents giving the most unequivocal signs of alarm? That there's a breathing soul which ever went in the door of that crib and intended victim and come out alive again? Never do you mind now. We shall make all the people stare at us if we go on whispering in this way. Supposing anyone did mean to nose upon its haven't we got our bankers in our pocket? Tony, said the cracksman, in whose mind these words of his companion seemed to rouse a sudden and most disagreeable idea. Talking about nosing makes us remember some of what was told a few days ago at Ratts Castle in the Rookery. And what was that, asked the resurrection man, surveying his friend with his serpent-like eyes in a manner that made him actually quail beneath his glance. What was it, repeated the cracksman, who appeared to hesitate whether he should proceed or not? Why, I heard a Magsman say that you nosed upon poor Crankney Jim, and that was the reason he got lagged and you was acquitted three years ago at Old Bailey. And what did you say to that, demanded the resurrection man, looking from beneath his bushy brows or the cracksman, as the goal in eastern mythology may be supposed to gaze on the continents of him who he marks for his victim? What did I say answered the cracksman in a hoarse whisper? Why, I knocked the fellow down to be sure. And you did what you ought to do, and what I should have done if any had told me that of you, said the resurrection man, in a tone of the most perfect composure. While this conversation took place hurriedly and in whispers, the mysterious stranger continued to smoke his cigar without once glancing around him, and the other inmates of the Dark House parlor, recovering a little from their panic of the entrance so that individual made a faint attempt to renew the discourse. But although the eyes of the stranger were apparently occupied in watching the reefs of smoke as they curled upwards to the ceiling, they were in reality intent upon the parlor window, the lower part of which alone was darkened by the sliding shutter that lifted up and down. There was a bright lamp over the front door of the public house, and thus the heads of all the passengers in the street might be described as they passed the window by the inmates of the parlor. I say, Ben, exclaimed one reveler to another. Have you heard that they're going to lay out a park by Boner's Road and Hackney Wick? Yes, the Victoria Park, was the reply. Only fancy given them poor devils of spittle fields we were as a park to walk in instead of filling their bellies, but I suppose they'll make a precious deep pond in it. What for demanded the first speaker? Why for the poor creatures to drown themselves in, to be sure? At this moment the continence of a man in the street peered for a single instant over the shutter and was then immediately withdrawn, but not before a significant glance had been exchanged with the stranger sitting in the neighborhood of the door. All this, however, remained entirely unnoticed by the male and female revelers in the parlor. Well, it's gone nine, whispered the cracksman to his companion, and this fellow-hofer don't come. It's my opinion he ain't a going to. We'll give him a half-hour's grace, return the resurrection man. The young fool is hard up and won't let the hope of five cooters slip through his brain quite so easily. Half an hour's grace, as you say, Tony, whispered the cracksman, and then, if he don't come, we'll be off, eh? Oh, just as you like, rather resurrection man, you seem quite chicken-hearted tonight, Tom. I don't know how it is, answered the cracksman, but I've got a little bit of a sense, per sentiment, as he calls it, of evil. The sight at that there feller there, and he nodded towards the stranger. Humbug interrupted the resurrection man. You haven't had grog enough, that's it. He accordingly ordered the waiter to supply fresh tumblers of hot liquor, and the next half-hour slipped away rapidly enough, but no Henry Holford made his appearance. At a quarter to ten the two villains rose, and having settled their door departed. Scarcely had the parlor door closed behind them, when the short, thick-set stranger also retreated precipitately from the room. Disappointed, and in an ill-humour, the resurrection man and the cracksman, hurried away from the dark house towards the din situated in the immediate vicinity of the bird-cage walk. The streets were ankle-deep in mud, a thin, mizzling rain was falling, and neither moon nor stars appeared upon the dark and murky field of heaven. The two men walked one a little in advance of the other until they reached the top of Brick Lane, where they separated for the purpose of proceeding by different routes toward the same point. A precaution they invariably adopted after quitting any public house in each other's company, but so well where the arrangements of the police concocted, that while the resurrection man continued his way along Tyson Street, and the cracksman turned to the right in Church Street until he reached Samuel Street, up which he proceeded, and active officer followed each. While in the neighborhood of Virginia Street in the bird-cage walk, numerous policemen were concealed in dark alleys, lone courts, and obscure nooks, ready to hasten to any point whence the spring of rattles might presently emanate. Also concealed in a convenient hiding place and anxiously awaiting the result of the various combinations affected to discover the den of murderers, Richard Markham was prepared to aid in the operations of the night. Meantime the resurrection man pursued one route and the cracksman another, both converging towards the same point, but neither individual suspected that danger was on every side. They advanced as confidently as the flies that worked their way amidst the tangled web of the spider. At length the resurrection man reached his house and almost at the same moment the other ruffian arrived at the door. All right, Tom. All right, Tony. And the resurrection man opened the door. He simply pressing his foot forcibly against it in a peculiar manner. He entered the passage, followed by the cracksman, which later individual turned to close the door. When it was burst wide open and a half dozen policemen rushed into the house. Damnation cried the resurrection man. We are sold. And darting down the passage he rushed into the little back room, the door of which he succeeded in closing and fastening against the officers. But the cracksman had fallen into the hands of the police and was immediately secured. Rattles were sprung and the sudden unexpected din, breaking upon the solemn silence of the place and hour, startled the poor and the guilty in their wretched abodes. Break open the door there cried the sergeant who commanded the police and who was no other than the mysterious stranger of the dark house parlor. Break open that door and two of you run upstairs this moment. As he spoke a strong light shown from the top of the staircase, the officers cast their eyes in that direction and beheld a hideous old woman scowling down upon them. In her hand she carried a candle, the light of which was thrown forward in a vivid flood by the reflection of the large bright tin shade. This horrible old woman was the mummy. Already were two of the officers halfway up the staircase. Already was the door of the back room and the ground floor yielding to the strength of the Constable. Already were Richard Markham and several officers hurring down the street towards the spot, obedient to the signal conveyed by the springing of the rattles. When a terrific explosion took place, good God ejaculated Markham. What can that mean? There, there cried a policeman near him. It's all over with the sergeant and my poor comrades. Immediately after the explosion and while Markham and the officer were yet speaking, a bright column of fire shot up into the air, millions and millions of sparks glistening vividly showered down upon the scene of Havoc. For a moment, a single moment, the very heaven seemed on fire. Then all was black and silent, and doubly somber. The din of the assailants had ceased to exist and had been destroyed by gunpowder. The blackened remains and dismembered relics of mortality were discovered on the following morning amidst the ruins or in the immediate neighborhood, but it was impossible to ascertain how many persons had perished on this dreadful occasion.