Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

a> i te Se THE ENIGHT OF THE BROAD. ——————— = , ae ee on the still night air to the ears of those who were 80 rapidly nearing them. | ‘ As may be expected, the highwaymen, despite their re- resolution not to attack the carriage, kept their eyes riveted upon it, for they could not help experiencing a consider- able amount of curiosity and interest. They were soon able to make out that the carriage “was a close? “~—something after the fashion of a post- chaise. But it looked very odd to see a lamp burning at one side of it and not at the other. The horses that were attached to it seemed or good quality, for they drew it along at a tolerablo rate. + This was about all the highwaymen were able to make out. In another moment, with a sudden rush, the vehicle swept past. As soon as the rattle of the vehicle had dicd away a little, Claude exclaimed: ‘‘ Hang me, Jack, if I like to remain idle like this, and allow a carriage to go by in that fashion! Follow me! We will overtake and stop it at all hazards!” Sixteen-String Jack was not very much surprised at this sudden change of his eomrade’s determination. Without a single word of dissent—for the proposal exactly accorded with his feelings—he followed his friend. Their weapons they knew were in perfect readi- ness. They now put their horses to the utmost speed they were capable of making, and the manner in which they flew over the ground was something extraordinary. As the pace they were going at was at the very least double to that made by the vehicle in front, it follows that they overtook it in a very short time indeed, despite the efforts which the driver made upon hearing some one powdering after him at such a rate. “Hold!” cried Sixteen-String Jack, who happenea to be first—“‘ hold, I say! Pull up your horses! If you disobey, I will let daylight into you!” A chorus of screams came from the intewor of the vehicle immediately after the pronunciation cf this threat. The coachman, like a prudent man who places a due value upon his life, tightened the reins, and the panting horses very gladly came to a standstill. Jack turned round and saw that Claude had made the best use of his time. ‘ He had already gained the door of the carriage, and was looking into the interior. Perceiving this, Sixteen-String Jack thought he could not be better occupied than by keeping guard over the driver; he resolved to remainin the position he had taken up, and leave the rest to his companion. Leaving Jack to this piece of duty, we will return to the proceedings of Claude. The moment he rode up to the window and looked in, he beheld a sight for which he was scarcely prepared. _ The carriage contained half a dozen persons ; and what was surprising was that they were, without exception, young girls whose ages might be taken at.an average of seventeen or eighteen years. By the manner in which they were attired it could be perceived at once that they belonged to the upper ranks of society. They were, too, all beautiful, so that Claude was fora moment quite dazzled and overpowered by the sight of so much loveliness. ; Our friend’s appearance was greeted by a successyon of faint screams. The loudest was uttered by a young lady who held in one hand a lamp, evidently the one that should. have been at the side of the carriage. In her real or affected cousternation, she suffered it to slip from her hand. It would have fallen to the floor of the carriage but for the quickness with which Claude put ou; his hand and caught it. | This he was able to do easily, for :mmediately upon _ finding that he had nothing but ladies to deal with, he _ had censigned his pistol to the holster of his saddle. .The manner in which he now held the carriage lamp _ was such as to allow its beams not only to fall upon the sohevy of fair ladies. but also upon himself, for he could 1783 perceive that, despite their real or pretended terror, they were stealing glances at him, and Claude was rather in- clined to be vain of his personal appearance. And, indeed, rarely had he appeared to greater advan- tage than he did at that very moment. His ccuntenance was one which even his detractors could not but admit was a most pieasing one, and his dark mousiache—then quite an unusual appendage to the face—gave him a decidedly foreign and distinguished look. Then his eyes were remarkably fine and bright, and as the light of the lamp fell upon tham they seemed to glitter almost like diamonds. Ther there was his picturesque-looking hat. His n» less picturesque-looking costume, for his bright scarlet cost and white vest gave him quite a military ap- pearance. It did nxé require much penetration to discover that his exterior had made a very favourable impression upon the ladies. With a smile which was really charming, and which seemed at once to dissipate any apprehension which the ladies may have experienced, he said, with a graceful in- clination of the head and many gentle accents : ‘‘ Hxcuse me, fair ladies, for my seeming rudeness, but I little dreamt this road would be enriched with so much loveliness to-night. I cannot bow, I fear, for both my hands are occupied, and yet v Even as he spoke he, with a rapid movement, shifted the lamp from his right hand to the left, in which he held the reins. He found it was able to do this double duty very well. His right hand was now at liberty, and the first use he made of it was to remove his hat and make a very deep and respectful bow. Now it is nota very easy thing to bow gracefully on horseback, but Claude managed it to perfection. Then witb aslight shake of his head he caused his dark mass of hair to fall into a profusion of natural curls. At this time it was no less singular to see a gentleman wearing a moustache than it wastosee him with his own hair, for barbarous fashion dictated that nothing but wigs should be worn. The effect produced upon all the ladies by this was greater than before. One was so overcome by it that she actually uttered a sigh, which had the effect of bringing Claude’s eyes full upon her, and which, of course, threw her into a great deal of confusion. _A rather awkward pause now ensued. It was broken by the young lady who had held the lamp, and who appeared to be of a more sprightly dis- position than the rest. The manner in which she glanced at Claude while she spoke clearly showed that our adventurer had made quite the reverse of a disagreeable impression upon her. ‘¢ Perhaps, sir,” she said, with a saucy toss of the head and an air of assumed indifference, ‘“‘ you would be kind enough to let us know why you have interrupted our journey in this threatening manner ?” ‘‘Tadies,” said Claude, resuming his hat and placing his hand upon his heart, “1 beg you will not prove your- self so unkind as to turn a deaf ear to my supplicating apologies. I do indeed most heartily regret that I should have disturbed your journey; but can you wonder if I confess that now I feel rejoiced, for never before have my eycs rested upon such an effulgence of loveliness.” ‘his speech was very favourably received by the ladies to whom it was addressed, and from whose features all appearance of fear had completely faded away. “It seems very strange,” said the one who had first spoken, ‘that you should stop us thus. May we inquire your motive for doing so ?” “Ahem!” said Claude. knight.” Rees “A wandering knight ?” echoed all the ‘adies in chorus, and with a manifest accession of interest. “Yes,” s “Oh, how delightful!” said the one who had first spoken, and who appeared to be the youngest of the party. ‘* Why, do you know, 1 have been reading the most charming book. Here itis: ‘ Rosalba, or the Wan- dering Knight.’ Pat then, it can’t be you—your name is not Rosalba ?” “T_T—am a wandering 0)(6\6) er Gomi “S