The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

usual deposit of a guinea being made, and the com- mon questions of how, when, and where having been asked, the tradesman, being very impatient, said, with some warmth— aa “Captain Jack, is it in your power to serve me? If it is I have thirty guineas here ready to lay down; butif you expect that I should dance attendance upon you for a week or two, I assure you I shall not be willing to part with half that money.’ “¢ My dear sir,’ replied Jack, ‘I am no receiver of stolen goods, noram I a thief, so that if you do not wish to give me time to inquire you can take what proceedings you may think proper.’ “When the tradesman found he was likely to be left without any hopes he began to talk in a milder strain, and, with abundance of entreaties, begged Jack to help him all he possibly could. ‘Captain Jack stepped out a minute or two, and as soon as he came back he told the tradesman, «Tt was not in his power to serve him in such a hurry, if at all; however, in a day or two he might be able to give him some answer.’ 4 “The tradesman insisted that a day or two would lessen the value of the goods one half to him: “And Jack insisted as peremptorily that it was not in his power to do anything sooner, “At last a servant came in a great hurry, and told Jack that a gentleman wished to see him in- stantly. | “ Jack bowed, and begged to be few moments. “ Shortly afterwards he returned with a smiling countenance, and, turning to the tradesman, said— “<«T protest, sir, you are the luckiest man I ever knew ; I spoke to one of my people to go to a house where I sometimes resort, and directed him to talk of your robbery, and to say you had been with me and offered thirty pounds for the things again. This story had its effect, and if you go directly home I fancy you will hear more of it than I can tell you. But pray, sir, remember, the thirty pounds was your own offer, and you are free to give it or not, just as you please; but as I have taken an interest in the matter an adequate reward would not be out of place.’ | i , “Away went the tradesman wondering where this affair would end, “But while walking towards his own shop a fellow overtook him, patted him on the shoulder, delivered him the parcel unopened, and told him ‘the price was twenty guineas, “The tradesman paid it to him directly, and re- turning to Captain Jack’s house begged of him to accept the other ten pounds for his own troubte. “Jack told him that he had saved him nothing, but he supposed the people ‘considered twenty guineas, enough considering that they thought themselves safely from prosecution. ; “The tradesman still pressed the ten guineas on Jack, who, after taking them out of his hand, re- turned him five of them, and assured him, “¢ That was more than enough,’ adding— « “Tt is satisfaction sufficient to an honest man thatjhe is"able to procure people their goods again.’ “This was a remarkable instance of the modera- tion Captain Jack sometimes practised, the better to conceal his villanies. ‘* Another story is no less extraordinary. « A lady, whose husband was out of the kingdom, and who had sent over draughts for her assistance to the amount of between £700 and £1,000, lost the pocket book in which they were contained near excused for a THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 183 Fleet Street, where the merchant lived upon whom they were drawn. “She, however, went to the gentleman, and he advised her to go directly to Captain Jack, “ Accordingly she went to Lambeth, deposited the guinea, and answered the questions that he put to er. Jack said that in an hour’s time some of his people might discover who it was that picked the lady’s pocket. . “The lady was yehement in her desire to have it again, and at last went so far as to offer one hundred pounds, “ Jack, upon that, made answer— “Though they are of much greater value to you, madam, yet they cannot be anything like it to tl:em ; therefore, keep your own eouncil, and I will give you the best direction I am able for the recovery of your notes, In the meantime, if you will adjourn to any hotel at hand, and partake of some refresh- ment, I will furnish you with an answer as quickly as possible,’ “The lady would not be satisfied unless Captain Jack consented also to partake of some with her, “He at last complied, and ordered a fowl and other refreshment at the house which he named, and with which he was well acquainted. “After waiting some time, Captain Jack joined her, and told her he had heard news of her mis3ing pocket-book, desiring her to lay ten pounds on the table in case she should have occasion for them ; and, as the waiter came up to acquaint the lady that the fowl was ready, Jack requested that she would just step down and see if there was any woman waiting at the door. “The lady, without minding the mystery, did as he desired her, and discovered a woman in a grey cloak, who walked two or three times past the door, | “This aroused her curiosity, and prompted her to go nearer; but recollecting she had left the gold on the table upstairs, she went and snatched it up, rau down once more, and went towards the woman in the grey cloak, who still walked before the door. “Tt seems she had suspected correctly ; for no sooner did the woman see her approach towards her, than she came up directly, and presenting the pocket-book, desired she would open it. “* Here,’ she added, ‘is another note.’ “Upon which the unknown woman presented her with a little billet, on the outside of which was written, ‘ten pounds.’ | “The lady took the money immediately, an] pre- sented the woman with a piece for herself. “This done, she returned to Jack, and told him, with much pleasure, that she had secured her book, and would now eat her dioner most heartily. - “When the table was cleared, she considered ii was time to return to the merchant’s, who, probably, now had come back from Change, but first considered it necessary to make Captain Jack a handsome present. “For this purpose she put her hand into her pocket, and, to her surprise, found it was gone, in which was the remainder of fifty pounds which the merchant had lent her in the early part of the day. “Upon this she looked very much confused, but did not speak a word. “ Jack quickly perceived her confusion, and asked her if she was unwell. “TY am well in health, sir,’ she replied, ‘but amazed that the woman took but ten pouuds for MICO Corn