Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

1388 they get an ounce of fact and plasterit over witha po ond ef lies at once.”’ ‘ You have had some experience that way, then ?”’ “T have, I believe you; but that’s neither here nor there.”’ ‘om Davis began to breathe a little more freely. ‘Well, then,’’ he exclaimed, *‘ you know positively of your own knowledge that Dick Turpin is really inside Newgate at the present time P” “No, that I don’t. All I can say is what is printed on this paper, which is just to the effect that I have told you. At any rate, it seems there was a thousand pounds reward offered for his apprehension, though [ don’t know who is te get it.”’ - “ Well, I only hope it’s all true,’ said Tom Davis, bending his face down over the bill, ‘‘ for ever since these highwaymen have been on the road we have done no trade at all; people are afraid to travel, and never go any where if they can help it.”’ ‘Not only that,’’ returned the newsvendor, ‘‘ but I have heard something else, though, of course, I don’t know how true it may be.”’ “ What is it?” ‘“Why, all the inn-keepers round the country are grumbling fearfully at the badness of trade. Noone will stop there even for half an hour; they just have a drink at the door and are off again. And what should you think is the reagon P”’ ‘*T have really no idea.”’ “Well, then, there’sareport set abroad that Dick Tur- pin and his highwaymen have got aroadside public-house of their own, and that someone deep in their confidence keeps it. Where this inn is I believe no one can tell at present, but itis said if anyone should enter it they never are seen to come out again alive.”’ Tom Davis gave a great start, and exclaimed in well- simulated surprise, dashing his fist violently on the table while he spoke: ‘That accounts for it—that accounts for it, I won- dered what this dropping off in trade meant. Why, do you know it is the greatest rarity for me to catch sight of any one now-a-days? But it was not so—it was not * That’s the cause,” said the newsvendor, as he drank the last drop of ale; ‘‘ you know the reason now, and depend upon it there’s some foundation, in fact, for what I have just told you.”’ *‘T shouldn’t wonder,” said Tom Davis. ‘Well,’ said the man, ‘‘I will be off. I thought this would turn out a better job than it has at present; the papers don’t move off at all briskly ; somehow no one believes it.”’ ; “T can scarcely bring my mind to believe it,”’ said Tom Davis; “ but the day is young yet—you have plenty of time before you. Will you stop and have another jug of ale P”’ ‘No, not now; many thanks to you—not now; but if I am by this way again you may depend I shall call.’’ “Do so—do g0,’’ The man rose, carefully picking up his long tin horn and his bundle of papers, and then sallied forth. ° Tom Davis accompanied him to the front door of the inn, where a few parting words were exchanged. Then he stood upon the door-step watching him until he got out of sight. Now that there was no one to observe it, Tom Davis’s countenance underwent avery great and striking altera- tion. It was ensy to tell that the intelligence that had just been imparted to him filled him with very great anxiety. “Dick in Newgate,” he muttered as he turned away. ““T fear there is no room left to dort it. However, I - will hear what the others say.”’ Returning to the kitchen, he found that the three highwaymen were fully as anxious as himself. The bill that had been left upon the table had been carefully perused. It gave very few details, and many of them, as the highwaymen were perfectly certain, were quite incorrect. It stated that Dick Turpin’s famous mare, Black Bess, was in the hands of the police officers. This was palpably false, for Black Bess was at that moment in the stable. BLACK BESS; OR, e Yet from this circumstance they managed to extract some amount of confidence and consolation. “If they are wrong about Black Bess,” said ‘l'om, ‘‘ why may they not be wrong about herrider? For my part I can scarcely believe that Dick is in Newgate, al- though | see it in print before my eyes, and although he has failed to return at the time appointed. The ques- tion is, how are we to ascertain it without incurring danger ourselves ?”’ ‘© Yes, that’s the point we have to discuss,” cried Tom Davis, “and the sooner we begin it the better. And not only that—did you hear what the man said about the roadside-inn? The secret passage has not been con- structed one hour too soon, for, as 1 dreaded, the police officers have got wind of our nicelittle scheme. I kuew very well things were going on by far too pleasant and comfortable to last.”’ CHAPTER DCCCXLVII. TOM DAVIS SETS OUT FOR LONDON IN ORLER TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER DICK TURPIN IS REALIY A PRISONER OR NOT. ‘“Yus,” said Sixteen-String Jack. ‘ We all heard him, and, at any other time than the present, shouid feel a very great deal more uneasiness than we donow. As it is, however, a consideration of the captain’s positicn outweighs everything.” ‘ You are right there,’’ rejoined Tom King. “If what we have heard is true, no exertions and sacrifices must be wanting on our part to effect his release. You all know very well that if any of us happened to be in his position, he would be the firet one to attempta rescue.”’ ‘‘ He would—he would,” said Claude Duval, “and I will willingly do all I can.” ‘‘ T+ seems to me,’’ said Tom Davis, “ that almost the first thing to be done is to ascertain, somehow or other, whether the facts set down in this bill are true.”’ “Yes, that’s it,’’ said Sixteen-String Jack. ‘‘ But how is it to be done P”’ ‘If you will allow me,’ said Tom Davis, “ to make a suggestion ‘3 * Oh, certainly !”’ ‘Tt is, then, that you allow me to set off without delay to London. When there, I shall be able to ascer- tain for certain.” ‘A good suggestion,’ said Tom King, ‘only I can improve it.’’ “In what way P”’ ‘‘ By allowing me to go instead of yourself.” But Tom Davis only shook his head. ‘No, no !’’ he exclaimed—‘‘ I am quite certain that would never answer at all! You would runa thousand risks of detection, whereas I should run none. If seen by anyone, it would only be thought that I was about my regular business.” ‘‘ Yes, yes!’’ oried Sixteen-String Jack and Claude Duval. “Tom Davis is perfectly in the right. He ought to go, and let him start at once, and then he will be back the sooner.”’ ‘Tam ready now.” ‘No doubt you are,” said Claude. ‘‘ And don’t stay a moment longer than is absolutely necessary. When you have found out whether Dick is in Newgate or not, hasten back at the top of your speed.”’ ‘*T will, depend upon it !” ‘“Very well, then—be off !” ‘In a moment. Where’s Maud ?” They looked around, and just at that moment Ellen entered. The question was repeated. ‘‘ She is still senseless,’ was the answer. quite alarmed.” ‘You must try to bring her to,’’ said Davis, ‘and as soon as She is conscious let her know that I have gone to London, and say I hope to return with good intelli- gence.” ‘* How long shall you be absent ?”’ Ellen asked. ‘‘ That isimpossible for me to say; but nolonger than I can help. While I am away,’ he continued, addressing the highwaymen, “do you keep carefully out of sight, and if the officers pay a visit in my absence, don’t hesi- tate to avail yourselves of the secret passage,” ‘We are iEOmIGhboOoks (E (0)