Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

= ~ THE the little parlour beyond where the deaf and dumb bsy was sitting. _ By sigus he instructed him to copy out some accounts of money owing. as entered in the book, and having thus secured an employment for the young Judas, he returned to the bar. ‘Speak to me in a whisper,” he said, leaning forward over the counter. “ Be careful not to raise your voice.” “ All right, Matthew; but don’t look so scared.” ‘Scared 2” “Yes, One would think, to look ab you ths? uy bad just seen a ghost.” ‘‘ Worse and worse!” “ How worse ?” “‘T have seen you!” Dick laughed Ifghtly. ‘Never mind me,” he said, - I can look after rayscif. I don’t wish to bring you into any trouble either, so, as - goen as I have carried out my intentions, I will de- ” “But, oh! captain,” said Matthew, “what could have induced you to be so thoughtless—so insane as to venture here to-night ?” ‘“Pshaw{ It’s nothing! ‘You are, inleed !” 7 “Should you have recognised me 2” ei think not. I never knew a change to be so com- ete. “Then,” said Dick, ‘‘I may think myself tolerably safe, I presume ?” ~ ““Well—well,” cried Matthew, “since you are here, speak quickly, and tell me all you can.” ‘‘T intend to do so.” “JT don’t ask you to come in,” said the landlord, “simply because I think you will be safer standing where you are. You need not feel afraid that the police officers will recognise you, and we can carry on a conversation undisturbed.” 3 “T quite approve of the notion,” said Dick. ‘In the first place, then, I have bad news to communicate. Our pleasant life at Ealing has come to an end.” “T knew that,” said Matthew, sharply. ‘You knew it—how ?” “Why, simply because Ellen, Tom Davis, and his wife were brought prisoners to Bow Street late last night, or rather early this morning.” “Yes, yes—of course. What has been done with them ?” “They were carried before the magistrate, of course.” ‘6 Well—well, and the result ?” “ What result could you expect? The whole case was made perfectly clear and straightforward. The magistrate Am I not well disguised ?” said he had never known such an outrageous case in his life.” ‘‘ Were you present at the trial, then ?” “Of course I was; though it was not exactly a trial, but an examination.” “ Well—well, it’s much the same taing. You know what I mean.” : ‘‘[ do, and, as you might expect, the magistrate has committed them all three to take their trial next week at the assizes.” *t Will their case come on so soon ?” “Tt will, indeed. Not that I expect it will be on the first day ; but perhaps towards the end of the session. me the most they will be brought to trial in eight or nine ays.” ‘Something must be done for them,” said Dick, “ that’s quite clear.” / ‘What can you do?” asked Matthew. “That I don’t know, my friend; but J shall think it over, and, rely upon it, we shall make an e‘fort.” “But, good Heavens!” said Matthew, “ii you were 60 fortunate as to make your escape from the Uhree Spiders in the way you did, why did vou tempt your fate by re- turning here to-night ?” “Simply because it was a necessity. « have come, Matthew, on purpose to ask you to grant me a favour.’ ‘Name it, and you shall have it.” ©“ Well, then,” said Dick, “it will be necessary for mu to enter into some kind of explanation ” ““Go on; you are perfectly secure. The only thing ts, you are in an uncomfortable position to carry on s con- rs ie: _ Wersation. I should like you in the parlour youder, and r < a . , ~ eee: = ~~ * - : + ed SN Ne | i I Ee KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. 1485 to pass a comfortable hour; but that is out of the ques- tion.” “So I suppose. Well, this will do for me, so listen.” Dick then, as rapidly as he possibly could, gave old Matthew a brief outline of all the strange adventures that had befallen him in Newgate. To every syllable Matthew listened with the utmost in- tentness, He ccencluded by saying: “Weil, now, you see, Matthew, I feel, and I think you will feel with me, that the Governor of Newgate, having so far befriended me, deserves some kind of reward for it, and that’s why I mentioned about the money buried be- neath the tree.” “ And you have no money ?” No, Matthew—not a fraction, and for that reason I asked him not to attempt to visit the place until a week had expired.” “T see, And you want me to let you have such a sum of money as you require ?” “That’s it, Matthew. Iam sorry to trouble you, but it will be all rightin the end. You see, but for this un- fortunate attack being made so suddenly upon the inn, I should have been able to carry out my intention with the greatest of ease.” “Of course you would! But whata pity, captain, for you to run the risk of your life upon such a trifling matter as that !” Dick shrugged his shoulders. ‘ How could I help it?” he said. me break my word ?” “ You might have sent a messenger.” ‘“ Where do you think I could obtain one? “No—no, my friend, I consider that I have managed things very well indeed. I am quite contented with all that I have done so far.” ‘Well, perhaps you ought to be,” said Matthew, re- flectively, ‘‘for with so sharp a look-out as to my certain knowledge is kept for you, it seems marvellous that you should have reached here unseen.” ‘Stop a minute,” said Dick, “and I will tell you some- thing that will give you still more confidence in my dis- guise. itis a capital joke, too.” Matthew prepared to listen, and Dick accordingly favoured Ilxina with an account of his adventures on the road. Old Matthew listened to the recital with the most un- comfortable feelings. But Dick tried to make as light of all the incidents as he possibly could. : “But it’s running too great a risk,” he said—it’s carrying matters too far. For your own sake and for others you ought to be more careful.” “ But what better result could I hope for or obtain ?” said Dick. ‘Careful or not, here I am, you see, in safety.” ‘Yes, so you are—I can’t deny that: but still, don’t be too bold—don’t boast of what you have done. The sooner you start from here, the better; soI will fetch you the money you want at once.” ‘Don’t be in too much hurry, Matthew. I have one or two important things to talk over before I can take my departure.” ¢ Well—well, but be quick.” “Twill. In the first place, you must contrive by some means or other to get rid of that rascally boy of ours.” he Yes,” said Matthew, with a sudden start, and glanc- ing towardsthe inner room, ‘* You said something about his betraying you.” ‘Yes, and he will do it. When Tom, Claude, and Jack were here last, if you remember, yov sent him for their horses. He put the officers upon ue scent, and, had not my three comdes started off themselves, their capture must have been certain, and it would have happened, too, at your very door.” “Tg this really true?” exclaimed Matthew, scarcely able to believe what he heard. “Perfectly true,” said Dick; “and therefore I say don’t hesitate any longer about getting rid of him. If you keep him, he will some day or other bring ebout vour destruction.” ‘He shall go, captam—ub mull gu haye no traitors beneath my re%o\/) 7) “ Would you have av cace. . will CHOOKS.Gom ——————— ot