Penny Dreadfuls, 1867 · page 205 of 300
Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 205: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Content Description This page contains a large wood-engraved illustration titled "THE TRIAL. (SEE No. 30.)" depicting a courtroom scene with multiple figures, followed by narrative prose. The visible text describes Jack Sheppard departing from his criminal associates, with one named Fielder following him to London with murderous intent. The prose then shifts to a flirtatious dialogue between Jack Sheppard and Millicent Hunt, a chambermaid at the "St. John's Gate" inn, where Sheppard orders food and drink. The page is numbered 29, indicating this is mid-serial installment of the penny dreadful.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ee a! ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. \\ ay HI SSS ——__—— ( ! Wi Wael i] REL Feat EL Ht | , ' a Hidil HLH Ht i] 4 j j ' { iI Hi] ' (] I 1] WT ty rie | | Pola v i if j | ied Ne | | { }e \V \ : Hi, | | 4 i tl Lo? | v | I vf) faleltigtt | | \ Vv if 7) yy \ \\ YE AN M \ ea QS \ Ve: y ZH} jl) Ay \ } \ 1 \) Ah ' \ \ HHI EAI VT Wa\\\y ih) THE TRIAL. (SEE No. 30.) As Jack Sheppard departed, his quondam asso- ciates gazed after him. All, save Fielder, evinced a silent sorrow, With him the feeling was very dif- ferent. He had long entertained a feeling of jealousy towards his noble comrade, and now affected a belief that his motives in leaving the band were merely for the purpose of betraying it. Secretly following Jack Sheppard to London, he put up at the “ St. John’s Gate,” Clerkenwell Green, in which inn his intended victim had taken up his quarters for the night. : Here Fielder resolved to abide until an oppor- tunity should offer when he might slay Jack Sheppard, and claim the large reward that had been offered for his apprehension. While the highwayman was engaged in the stable looking after his horse, Fielder entered the house by another door. Here he engaged a bed-room, where he purposed to remain till his plan was ripe for execution. — While buried in his black and gloomy reflections, his notice was attracted by the sound of voices in the adjoining apartment ; and, as if fate favoured his design, the voices were those of his enemy, Jack Sheppard, and Millicent Hunt, the chamber- maid of the time-honoured hostelry. “Well, my pretty lass,” said Jack Sheppard, fayouring her with a kiss, “Ill warrant me, the No. 29, old ‘St. John’s Gate,’ unless it has lost its cha- racter, still keeps a good larder,”’ ‘Yes, so please you, gentle sir,” replied Milli- cent, smirking, and apparently by no means dis- pleased with the chaste salute she had received from the jovial guest; ‘‘we have meat, fish, and fowl, in galore, ready for the saucepan or spit.” “My keen appetite won’t allow me, damsel, to wait for cooking. Have you no cold viands? I can make shift with a venison pie and a rasher of bacon.” “You must be a wizard, good gentleman; for that is one of the dishes that are now in the pantry.” “Then let me have it without delay, my charm- ing abigail, for my journey has put a keen edge to my teeth.” ~ Millicent at once departed to fulfil the order, which had been enhanced by a further one for a tankard of ale. She shortly reappeared, spread a cloth of snow- white linen on the little table, and placed the pie and its adjuncts before the guest, Jack Sheppard sat down,'ate heartily, and drank lustily, stopping every now and then, in the course of his meal, to compliment his fair attendant, who, nothing loth, received the regard very graciously. After the meal, as Jack Sheppard was gazing es 0 a eS