Penny Dreadfuls, 1866 · page 197 of 400
Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 197: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This is an illustrated page of prose narrative from a Victorian penny dreadful titled "The Knight of the Road." The page features a wood-engraved illustration showing police officers apprehending a man on horseback, with additional figures in military dress standing nearby. Below the illustration runs dialogue between characters named Jack and Claude, in which they discuss a mysterious figure that appeared and disappeared mysteriously. Claude argues for remaining in their current quarters to investigate the mystery, while Jack expresses reluctance and agitation about the proposal. The text references "Sixteen-String Jack" and suggests supernatural or criminal intrigue. The price is listed as one halfpenny.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE KNIGHT OW THK HOAD, Re SS . Zs = « Wiss RY 1 SR SS & ‘-— | af .)} ~ N SS | Dy, = fi), cy) — >> =. [2M POLICK OFFICERS MAKE 10M KING A FAST PRISONER. | waking this statement that you will reconcile me to re- maining here.” “NotI. I speak what I believe.” > “ How was it, then, that the figure appeared and disap- peared so rapidly and mysteriously ?” “That we have to find out. Unfortunately, it seems we both averted our eyss at the same moment, and while we did so thewe was ample time for anyone to got out of the way.” @ “ But shoud it be a live man, what object could he bave ip keeping up such 8 mummery as this ?” “ Ah! there, now, you puta question to me I am ne better able to answer than yourself. Yet how easy to suppose that some one may, like ourseives, be anxious fcr remaining in concealment, and if so, what is more na- tural than to adopt the dress described to be worn by the Pope _ imitate the movements of a spectre as closely 0. 197.—Biack DEM No, 197. “That might be,” said Jack, after a ulomentary silence , “but still——” “ You don’t think it,” interrupted Claude. “ That's what you mean by your hesitation. Well, time will prove. H you take my advice we shall remain here in our present quarters, and the task of probing this mystery to the bottom will find us with an occupation.” After that, Sixteen-String Jack was silent. It was clear he by no means relished the proposition of his comrade, yet he did not like to confess as much, and waen we come to remember the strange circumstances under which the shadow first presented itself to him, we shall not be surprised that he should suffer on this occa sion an extraordinary amount of agitation. Look here, Jaca,” said Claude, ‘we will give up our idea of roaming about the ruins to-night. I can tell you want alittle calm, peaceful slumber if you can have it The difference i¢ will make to you will be mY priv Prick One HaALFrPenny, EONNIEOOOKS5EO)