Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

— 148 4 — This course took him directly past the principal police station in the metropolis. At that late hour, however, the place looked dismal and quiet enough. A miserable oil lamp was flickering over the door, and in front an officer was pacing up and down. Upon Dick he did not bestow a secona glance, and the highwayman, taking the next turning to the left, drove straight up to old Matthew’s door, where he paused. Descending from his seat in as clumsy a manver as he possibly could, and endeavouring to keep up the character he had assumed in the minutest details, he pushed open the door and entered the inn, The house was almost empty, though from one room came sounds as though some dispute or other were going on. Taking no notice of this, Dick walked straight up to the bar. At first he saw no one, but after knocking sharply on the counter the little Jewish boy that old Matthew had taken under his protection made his appearance. From the description given by his three comrades, Dick was able to recognise this boy easily enough. His vexation at seeing him was great, and he was sorry that Matthew, generally so acute, should in this instance permit himself to be so grossly imposed upon. Before he left, Dick determined that the landlord Bhould be no ionger in ignorance of the traitor he had got under his roof. For the moment Dick forgot that this boy was both deaf and dumb, so he called out for brandy-and-water. The sign which the boy made was so expressive that even had he known nothing about it previously it would have sufficed to let Dick know that he was deficient of the faculties of hearing and speaking. As is often the case, what this boy lacked in one sense he made up for in another. He was uncommonly acute, and could tell pretty accurately by the mere movement of the lips what was said to him, especially when any kind of liquor was called for. Therefore, as soon as Dick spoke he placed his hand upon a small barrel on which the word “ Brandy’’ was painted. Dick nodded, and the boy immediately proceeded to serve him. The brandy-and-water was put down on the counter and paid for. Dick thought the boy looked keenly at him, but he took no notice of that, for by this time he had grown to feel quite confident in his disguise. He sipped at his brandy-and-water, and the boy re- tired to the inner room. Dick now found himself in a position of unexpected difficulty. In his calculations he had altogether omitted the pre- sent contingency. How to gain access to old Matthew was a mystery. Had the girl been there as usual the matter would have been easy enough, but with this traitorous boy the case was altogether different. Reflectively, then, Dick continued to sip at his brandy- and-water, and while he was so engaged he heard the goat in front of the inn pushed open and slammed shut. He turned round at once and saw a man approach whose appearance seemed strangely familiar to him, yet, though he tried his best, Dick could not remember when and where he had seen him before. This man, with a peculiar gait, lounged up to the bar, and, placing his arms upon the counter, looked closely in Dick’s face. : Turpin stood the scrutiny bravely, and%vz felt pretty certain that this man had not penetrated his disguise. Dick, however, had recognised him. When his countenance was revealed by the light in the bar he knew it at once, and remembered where he had seen it before. He was the man who on a former occasion crept into the inn and concealed himself in the cupboard under- neath the counter. The full particulars of the manner in which this spy had been scalded by old Matthew had of course been re- BLACK BESS; OR, lated to Dick, and the man had also been pointed out to him, Apparently he was no jonger a member of the police force, for he was dressed in shabby, ragged garments. The fact was, he had been dismissed some time before for a gross breach of duty, and since that time had led a precarious life in the streets, The boy again came forward, for he had witnessed this new arrival. He recognised the man also, and Dick fancied that a A coolmane glance of recognition was exchanged between them. ‘The man did not speak, but put down some coppers on the counter. The boy knew what he wanted, for he produced a small glass of neat vin. x eens far to-night, governor P”’ he said, addressing ick. ‘“ Yes,”’ was the reply, ‘‘ I havea considerable journey to make,’’ The man drank his gin very slowly, but continued all the while to gaze into Dick’s countenance in a manner that made the highwayman begin to grow uneasy. Difficulties were increasing around him, nor could he for his life see a clear way out of them. His glass being by this time finished, he pushed it forward for replenishment, and exactly at this moment a footstep was heard upon the stairs, the foot of which was close to the bar window. The footstep was a heavy one, and this man no sooner heard it than he tilted up his glass and made a pre- cipitate retreat. Directly afterwards a door was opened, and old Matthew made his appearance. ‘“ What's the meaning of that confounded row ?”’ he said—‘‘ who is it quarrelling there P”’ He turned up the passage towards the door of the room from which the angry sounds proceeded. Dick left the bar counter, and, stepping quickly after the landlord, touched him on the armand whispered in is ear: “It is J, Matthew—Dick. Don’t be frightened, or speak, or recognise me—that deaf and dumb boy isa traitor and will betray me.’’ Old Matthew tried to answer, but could not. He staggered back several paces, nor did he stop until his back, coming in contact with the wall of the passage, brought him to a sudden halt, His eyes rolled fearfully, and his mouth opened to its fullest extent, while over his whole countenance was spread an expression of utter incredulity. Dick then did on the spur of the moment the very best thing he possibly could, even had he determined to do so after spending several hours in reflection upon it. He turned abruptly round, and retraced his steps to the bar counter, where, taking up his glass, he began again to sip his brandy-and-water. CHAPTER CMX. DICK TURPIN MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO OLD MATTHEW, AND GIVES HIM A CAUTION. Tuus left to himself, old Matthew recovered from his astonishment more rapidly than he would have done under any other circumstances. Dick now felt perfectly secure. He had the utmost faith in old Matthew’s resources. He had learned by experience how fertile he was in expedients of every kind, and therefore did not doubt that he would devise the best means of obtaining an interview without drawing down any suspicion by so doing. Matthew gave a great start and then became calm, though a close observer could have detected the great amount of agitation under which he laboured. Carrying out his original intention, he entered the room from which the sounds of quarrel continued to come. He bestirred himself vigorously, and soon quelled the disturbance. Having done so, he returned to the bar. He took no notice whatever of Dick, but, having passed through the door, closed it. berind bin From a shelf he took down Eom cvo oks;: Go