Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

1700 —— a ~ “You judge from my appearance,” said Maud, “that I shall be unable to pay you.” The man started upon finding his thoughts so rightly interpreted. “You need have no fear on that head,” Maud coa- tinued. ‘'Look—here is more than sufficient to discharge the most extortionate reckoning.” So saying, she produced irom her pocke? a go~™-sized purse, which she opened just wide enough to allow the man to see that it was filled with guineas, The sight of this weath wioaght an immediate change. All his gruffness and sullenness vanished He was ready to prostrate himself before Maud, and in the most cringing tones invited her to enter. Maud was so disgusted with his behaviour that she felt almost inclined to retreat, but the uncertainty of whether she should be able to find another flacs 9f rest overcame every other consideration, and she eriered. The man, with great obsequiousness, ushered her into a room, in which he requested her to seat herself. At the same time he placed the candle upon the table. “‘T cannot eat,” said Maud, in reply to his question as to what he should place before her. ‘I feel that if I attempted to swallow a mouthful it would choke me. No—no! all that I require is the opportunity to rest my wearied limbs.” “Very good, miss,” said the man, with a peculiar light blazing in his eye, which if Maud had noticed would have served to make her feel very uneasy. “Indeed, I will make you as comfortable as I can. But, perhaps, while lam getting your bed-room ready, you would like to take a glass or two of wine ?” Maud did not reply, for just then her thoughts were wandering far away, and although the man’s words fell upon her ears, yet their signification did not penetrate to her understanding. He, however, evidently took her silence for consent, for he left the room immediately, and after the lapse of a few moments returned with a bottle and a wine- lass. et Here you are, miss,” he said, as he put the articles down upon the table. His entrance roused Maud from her reverie. “Your room will soon be ready,” said the man. you are so wet, a glass of wine will do you good.” Maud shuddered, for just then her thoughts reverted to Jack the ostler and the fearful aspect he had presented as he lay stark and stiff beneath the tree. The man, attributing this to cold, officiously poured out a glass of wine, and pressed her to drink it. Maud was just about to raise the glass to her lips, when, happening to turn towards the door, she saw the most singular-looking head and face she had ever happened to behold. It was only fur a moment, however, that ghe caught sight of it. The man, following the direction of her eyes, n9 sooner caught sight of the head and face than he seized a heavy boot-jack that happened to lie upon the table and flung it with all his force. So suddenly was this act performed, and so accurate was tho aim taken, that before the head could be with- drawn it reccived a terrible blow that echoed and re- echoed through the howse. A loud yell of pain followed, suseeeded by a lumbering sound. Then all was still. Gh As BLACK BESS: O82, ‘ _ oe. ele * cme + a : ad An yet she could not presume to fiud fault with the dumestie arrangements of the house. “ You have not drunk your wine, miss.” “No—no; believe me, I cannot. Is my room ready ?” ‘“T dare say it is, by this time.” “7 do not want to remain here any longer than wili be necessary for me to recover my strength ; but in order to continue my journey I want a horse. Can you provide me witb one? I will either buy or hire it.” «{ can accommodate you, no doubt,” answered the man, witb a grin that muck increased the natural hideous- ness of his countenance; ‘but as you are very weary, suppose we leave the settling of that until after you have rested yourself” Maud was only too willing to consent. Her fatigue momentarily increased, and her eyelids seemed as though pressed down with leaden weights. Mechanically, like one walking in a dream, she followed the man up a flight of old-fashioned, crumbling, oaken stairs. He paused at a door situated at the extremity of a long corridor. Pushing it opon, Maud saw that a lamp was burning on a large chest. As she crossed the threshold, the man said: ‘ST don’t know whether you need anyone to wait upon you, miss. If you do, I will call up my wife, and she will be with you in a few moments.” he ae said Maud. “I shall manage best by my- self. “Very good,” was the gruff answer. “Good night— or, rather, good morning, for it is nearer the one than the other.” With these words the man departed, closing the door carefully behind him. Maud shivered from head to foot, and glanced around her with a sensation of trembling dread for which she could not account. It was probably imagination merely, but to her it seemed as thou;h the atinosphere of this bed-chamber was heavily laden with some thick, oppressive, sickening odour, of a kind she had never experienced before. The aspect of the room, too, was in itself quite enough to strike achill into apy Leart. It was barely and piainly furnished; the principal articles consisting of a massive bedstead and a huge oaken chest, which did duty for a dressing-table. There was no fire in the grate, aud the damp and cold from without seemed to penetrate through the window. But Maud’s exhaustion was complete. Despite the oppressive odour, the chillness, the cheer- lessngss, she removed a portion of her upper apparel, and lying down on the outside of the bed, covered herself with the coverlet. Almost as soon as she assumed a recumbent attitude her eyes closed, and she fell off into a deep sleep, that for a time rendered her oblivious of everything. How long this heavy slumber continued she knew not; but presently she began to dream. She fancied that Dick Turpin was in'some place, aud only separated from her by a window. Slight as this obstruction seemed, yet it appeared to be more than Dick could overcome, so he was ‘appiug upon it with his finger nails, and making signs for Maud to open it for him and allow him to escape. Maud comprehended this fully, and made the most superhuman efforts to rise and do his bidding. But every limb refused to obey the dictates of her Maad put down her glass of wine antasted on the] will. table, and gazed on the man with mingle! wonder and | disgust. Perceiving the nature of the regara tuat was vent pon him, he said, in an apologetic tone of voice, and witn considerable confusion in his manner: ‘You see, miss, I am apt at times to be a little skért- tempered. But it’s over in 8 moment, and then, Lor’ bless you, I thinks nothing of it. Now, that was a rascally young nephew of mine, who has been shamefully misbehaving himself, and I ordered him to keep bis room, do you see, miss, but he must needs disobey, and come peeping aad prying, 80 you see he has got what he deserved.” Maud could by no means see this very clearly, but was Silent. for gh» i-lt bowever much che might disapprove, Again and again she stru;gled to rise, but it seemed as toough tons and tons had been piled upon her breast. Her anguish was increased by the impatier-e which was expressed upon Dick's features. e Suddenly, however, the spell was dissolvet She opened her eyes, and found herself lying on the bed. During that confusedness of feeling which all experi- ence when awaking in a strange place, her ears were still assailed by the faint clattering, tapping uoise which sie had heard in her dream. She listeued for several moments; but the sound cor tinued without any intermission. “What can it be?” sle murmured, as sho geuthy + suwed herself to @ siiting posture Gomirlchboo cS Eom : a PG IE es oy, :