Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

> ps 2 Ne © ae | . shouts andatrampling of footsteps, so that in what 2 Cy ea) “> Se een. ‘. ce < 4 TO NL Pep ey vy - % rs anda ae > « nmol « - a ’ ‘ a ; ey * " & These cries were instantaneously followed by loud geemed a magical short space of time Dick found himself followed by a crowd of persons of all ages and both sexes. His hopes of escape now sank ‘lawn to zero, yet he uid pot on that account in the least degree abate his speed, if =i aoa o, he increased it. anting snd breathless, with the perspiration running down his face in streams, and with a kind of mist before his eyes that half blinded him, he strove to think what would be the best thing he could doin order to baffle his pursuers. He turned azoruer rapidly, and then another ; but they were so close upon his track that belore he was able to turn again they bad him once more in signi. At every step did the numbers of those wno were pursuing him increase ; and there was this disadvantage, so far as Dick was concerned, that whereas he was almost spent with running, those who were foremost in the chase had only just begun their task. All at once, aman started out into the centre of the road and extended &otk his arms. To attempt to dodge past him Dick knew would be ab- surd, and s kept on his course, determined to run the man down, though he feared that in the scuffle he might Me delayed sufficiently to enable his foes to pounce upon m. This, no doubt, was what the man calculated upon, but he forgot to take into consideration his own personal con- dition. Clenching his right hand, Dick ran on straight as an arrow. The man stood resolutely up, but the tremendous blow from Dick’s fist felled him like an ox. The highwayman staggered for an instant, then bounded on. Actually he had gained a little on his foes, and, per- ceiving another turning which led towards Lincoln’s Inn, he did not hesitate to take it. But no sooner had he turned the corner struck with a sudden thought. He was then out of sight of all his foes, and could count upon being for the space of a few seconds, yet not long enough to onable- him to reach the top of the street. But he paused close to a doorway of rather pretentious a character, on which was a brass plate. He perceived this, as well as the name upon it, by means of a lamp that was burning above, and that was placed purposely so as to render the words on the door- plate legible. With a boldness that was astounding, Dick stepped up to this door, and knocked at it, while at the same time he pulled the bell. _ During the brief space that he had to wait for a reply, he read upon the plate the words :— “Mr. Solomon Cartwright, solicitor.” Just as the door was opened, the-crowd of persons turned the corner. Dick was hidden by the projecting portico, and no sooner was the door opened than, without waiting to be invited to enter, he stepped in and closed it after rim. Then he had the satisfaction of hearing his pursuers rush by. ** What is it, please?” said a female voice with toler- able clearness. “Ts Mr. Cartwright within ?’ “ Yes, sir, he is; but this is he cannot be disturbed.” “Tam sorry for that,” said Dick, who scarcely knew what to say. ~ But his active brain quickly suggested something, and he added: . ‘* Be good enough to tell him that a gentleman wizhes to see him on some matters connected with the sale of some property.” Now Dick hoped that the girl would leave him and go to dviiver this message, in which case he wsuld have slipped out of the door, and trusted to his good luck to make an escape. To his deep annoyance, however, he was frustrated in this intention. for a door elnse at hand was opened, and a gentleman stepped out into the passage. than he was past business nours, end THE KNIGHT OF THY ROAD. 1627 ‘“‘ What is it, Mary ?” he asked—- who is it 2” ‘““A gentleman wants particularly to see you about seme property,” was the reply. “Oh, certainly!” said the lawyer, who was never one to allow the chance of obtaining a fresh client to pass by. “Ask the gentleman to walk this way.” ; Dick had no resource but to comply. ‘‘T’m doomed to nothing but misfortune to-nicht,” he thought. ‘What on earth can} do? ow can I manage to deceive this man ?—what shall I tell his. ?” Really he had no time for thought. The door was close at hand. Without the lapse of a moment, he was shown into a room. There was a hre burning in it, and a lighted lamp was standing on the table, and surrounded by a great quantity of papers. “Take a seat, sir—pray tale a seat!” said the lawyer as he turned up the lamp, so as to cause it to give a brighter light, and to enable him to see his visitor better. ‘‘I happen at the present moment to be quite disengaged.” Dick wished from the bottom of his heart that the solicitor was overwhelmed with business. Nevertheless, he took a seat, and, with as much calm- ness as he could command, drew his handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped the perspiration from his face. ‘* Dear me,” ejaculated the lawyer, ‘‘how warm you look !” “Yes,” said Dick, concealing his breathlessness with much difficulty, “it is quite sultry.” “ flow odd!” said the lawyer, with a shiver. have I been crouching over the fire aH night.” “JT am excited,” said Dick—‘' very much excited, and I have come here at a very rapid rate to see you, as I was3 fearful I should be too late.” “T am perfectly ready to listen to you,” was the lawyer’s reply. ‘Be good enough to let me know the nature of your business.” This was a poser, for what to say next Dick had not the remotest idea, so, merely with the view of gaining time, he once more took out his pocket-handkerchief and wiped his face with it. While he did so, he could not help noticing that the lawyer was looking at him with an expression of sus- picion and distrust. ** Here CHAPTER CMLXXXIV. DICK TURPIN VERY CLEVERLY MAKES A TOOL OF THE LAWYER. But Dick Turpin was fast becoming himself again—cool, calm and determined. The silence that prevailed in the street justified him in indulging in the belief that his pursuers had lost. the scent altogether, and that he would have nothing more to do than to speak for a short time to the solicitor and then quietly take his departure. But even at this moment ka heard a loud hubbub, which gradually yet rapidly increased in loudness. ~ ‘Dear me,” said the lawyer, with an air of vexation, ‘‘ what in the world can be ‘he matter with the people to-night ?” ‘Tia sure 1 don’t know,” said Dick. ‘ There’s some- thing the matter; but I don’t know that it need concern us.” “No, certainly not. Pray proceed to the business you were about to place before me.” The lawver made a feint of consulting his watch, s if to show that his time was precivus. “ Well,” said Dick, “to be brief with you, Mr. Cart- wright, the fact is that a dear and much-loved friend of mine is at the present moment in very deep distress.” “ Pecuniary distress ?” asked the lawyer. ‘ Yes—in fact, he is in debt, an’ has been ’hrust into prison. It is a shocking thing, for { kuow very well that with anything like reasonable time he ce~ld pay off t?ya whole of his debts.” ‘Then may I ask Your object in consulting me ?” “JT will tell y5u in a moment,” said Dick, who by this time had atrgnged his whole plan of future operations, and which promised to be so satisfactory that he threw off at Ot,ce all the fears and apprehensions under wiick he beg peen iaboring. (CONAIELVOOLES (¢ (E(0)