Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

ee i 6 Sa Vhat—w Confound it, man, why don’t you oe 7) Senet ey F2 s '“ Why, this morning, early, I heard that Dick Turpin had been captured and was confined in Newgate !” _ This intelligence came upon old Matthew like a thunder lap, and fh his astonishment he gave the chair on which he sat such a jerk that it went rolling along the ocr on fs castors until stopped by the wall. -* ot / me An) Ay Bde et 4 " ~~ hy oie! Tn Newyate ?” ho gasped, rising to his feet. “ Hidi- -_——s eulous—impossible—nothing of the sort!” is Tom Davis drew a long breath. ot * «fam glad to hear it.” Why, how cn earth could such a report have reached -_- your ears? If it was true, depend upon it I should Lave heard all about it long ago.” — ——s« * So T should think,” returned Tom Davis, who was beginning to feel more at ease. “ Howevor, Matthew, if you will ave the paticnce to listen for a few minutes I SN will give you an account of the whole affair, from begin- Bing to end.” ere “Proceed, then—I am all attention.” _~—-s« ®hereupon, Tom described how Dick had taken his co eae departnre—how Black Bess had returned—how they had ‘waited for him in vain, and at last, how the newsman had ---— brought the intelligence. . Well, it’s very strange,” said olf Matthew, thought- cat fuliy, and resting his head on his hand—“ very singular indeed; but I have been away from home the last few days. Partioular business, conneséed with a relative af mine, took me downto over. I started three days ayo, gud did not return until this morning, and when I did __ arrive 1 found my house all in the greatest confusion, for a party of police officers had taken it into their heads that Thad secreted somebody ur other. I was vexed, of course, _ te think the place should have been so overhauled during my absence; but yet my mind was easy, because I had no «ne concealed.” — —< _ . “Then,” said Tom, begianing to look grave again, “it is quite possible that during your absence Dick’s arrest ‘may have been effected, and since you have returned __ kome donbiless you have been in such 4 state of eon- _ ___ fasion and excitement that you have had no time to hear ~ gnything.” ~~ _ “ Well, Tom, there may be something in that, and I am inclined to think there is; I should be more so but for ene fact.” oS Witat-is that 2” — “Why, I think it was only about the very last time ne was here that Dick Turpin most positively assured me that he would die a thousand times rather than sur- ~ render.” , —-s # Yes—yes, I have heard him say the same thing eee ORLONa: 7: _. “Well, and Dick is invariably as good as his word, so ae _ therefore I think the intelligence, after all, must be untrue.” . + “TT fervently hope so,” said Tom Davis, “for I can ____ assure you that his comrades are in the utmost consterna- ____ tion ; and as for Maud, the shock was terrible, and when I ___ left her she was only keeping herself up by the hope that ~ I should bring back good news.” } “Which I hope you will,” said old Matthew, “But ees: don’t let-us sit here auy longer talking thus and remaining fn suspense. If Dick isin Newgate, the fact will he easily pre 28 certained, and quickly too; if he is not, you may depend ___ he is well able to take care of himself.” Feo 8% Yes, yes—I have no doubt about that; and I beg, Bere _ Matthew) that you will, without any further delay, make ‘ east ine © mecessary inquirics.” “eb: Sora aad sy * Fas jee = Will you go too?” _ . “No; if you have no opjection, I would prefer to git H bere until you return.” : Rigg “Jt will perhaps he quite as well,” replied Matthow, Seats ae he spoke he took down his hat and changed his | Bie > coa Just ag he was about to quit the room the soor was ~ opened, and ‘said: : “You are wanted—now—in a moment.” _. + Matthew just nodded to his old friend and passed into -~ the bar. .. “hg et eee ks At the window was the turnkey whe had shown kim- pel to be such a good friend to, Turpin, ». _ .. _ * # You ere Maithew Galo, 1 suppese ?” ko said, the girl who minded the bar in bis absenve oe. : iat fe es eye <2 ’ al Pe ais —- whe Tees seen al — — . ety Fy OS xa S04 Oe es ea eg re ee ee : -—'s«sFPHE KNIGHT OF THE RCAD y repeated, since the reader is aiready acquainted with such ‘particulars as the turnkey was able to give. M00 “Well, then, take this, and this, and f will wait hero for your answer.” While speaking, the man handed over the letter and also the locket, both of which Matthew received with con- siderable surprise. Hastily opening the letter, ke glanced ai ite contents, At the first word the expression of his countenance changed suddenly. Turning ronnd, he made his way into the inaer room. “Tt’s true, Tom,” he said, es ne sank down into a chair—‘true, Tom—every word of it. Just read that; I am so confused that I can't.” Tom Mavis took the letter with a trembling hand, and, in a low, shaking voice, read what Turpin had written. Until its perusal was finished, no word was spoken, and then, looking into Matthew’s face, Tom said: “Weil, now, my friend, what do you think of that?” “Think?” replied Matthew, wiping his forehead. “I hardly kaow what to think; if seems impossible. Just let me have a look at the letter, will you?” Then, as if unable to believe his ears, he glanced rapidly over the sheet of paper. What can all this be about a locket?” he exclaimed. “« Stay—here it is; let us look at it.” With some difficulty, he found out the means by which the locket was opened, and he gazed with great interest and attention uvon the two pottralts, Tom Davis gazed also. “JT remember,” he said—"*I remember now. Dick told me all about it, and you will understand better if 1 make you acquainted with the facts.” In as few words as possible, Tom Davis then related to old Matthew Dick Turpin’s peculiar adventure with the mysterious lady, to whom he had reudered such an im- portant service, which she had requited him by the bestowal of the locket. Jld Matthew looked thoughtfully. “That, then, accounts for Dick having surrendered him- self. He must have great faith init—more faith than I should like to put in anything.” : “He has good reasons, rest assured,” said Tom Davis. [ have every confidence in him. Now that I have read his letter, with all speed I shall hasten back to the Thres Spiders, and ‘o-night, in all probability, Tom King will seek his audleace with the King.” Matthew shrugged his shoulders. “Tt scems an impossibility to me!” he exclaimed. ‘ How on earth can he hope to an audience ?” : “That I know not; I shall Teave it to him. He is very cunning in all expedients; and if any person could succeed he would.” Old Matthew was silent. , * + You may as wellinform me, or ascertain, if you don’t know, one fact that will save him some trouble, peraaps.” What is that ?” “Why, whether the King is at St. James’s or at Windsor.” ‘At Windsor, I believe. But before you go I will take care that there shall be no doubt upon this score.” % Who brought the letter? Where is he?” “ At the bar window,” returned Matthew. ‘“ He looks to me like one of the warders of the prison.” “Then,” suggested Tom Davis, had we not better have himin here for a few moments, and get from him some personal information ?” “ A good thought,” replied old Matthew—“ a very good thought; we'll have him in at once. It will be some satisfaction to know from some one who has seen him so lately just how Dick ‘Turpin is.” CHAPTER DCCCLVIII. DICK TURPIN CONTRIVES TO MAKE HIMSELF VERY U0M~ FORTABLE IN NEWGATE. Tum friendly jailer was at once called in, and @ conversa- tion of considerable length followed. There was nothing in it, however, that deserves to be ” ¥ct it was a very great satisfaction indeed bath to Tem ‘Davie and old Matthew Galo to hold convermatiog with 8 maa whe could tell them how Dick spcke and ieoked JOO e¢om (E <SiGO