Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

1734 “Tt is not,” said Olaude; “but yet 1am a wandering knight, as I informed you.” By this time our friend had discovered that he had hanced to fallin with some very romantically-inclined oung ladies, and he made a mental determination to ring the adventure to a pleasant termination. The reason of the lamp baing carried inside the car- riage was now apparent. The young ladfes had beguiled the tediuin of their journey by reading aloud one of those old romanees of chivalry which were at that period so much In faycur. “Really a wandering knight?” pursued the lady, in accents of incredulity. ‘‘ Indeed and in truih.” 3 ‘* And in searchof adventures ?”’ ‘Yes, though when I set out to-night I little thought that I was about to experience so much happiness, or, as I said before, that my eyes would be gladdened by such a galaxy of beauty.” The ladies fluttered their dresses and looked at each other, but they were so overcome at having encountered, as they imagined, one of their favourite heroes of romance, that they could say nothing. * Ladies,” said Claude, after the silence had constnued a@ moment or so, “believe me, I could remain thus for ages feasting my eyes upon your beauteous features ; but you, I doubt not, are all anxious to resume your inter- rupted journey, I should therefore esteem it a favour if you would answer me one question.” The ladies were at once filled with curiosity, and anx- iously assured him that he was welcome to ask a hundred. “Then, ladies,” said Claude, with an air of affected embarrassment, ‘what I wish to know is, whether your favourite knight, of whom you have been reading 4 ** Rosalba ?” “Yes. Well, [I want to know whether he was poor ?” “Poor ?™ ‘‘ Yes—whether he was in want of money, or whether he possessed an ample share of that not-to-be-despised commodity ?” The ladies shook their heads. ‘Then he was poor 2?” Oh, very !” “Thon I resemble your knight in more ways than one ?” ‘‘ Are you poor, then?” they asked, with compassionate earnestness. “Oh, very !” Their looks bespoke their regret ‘‘T am even now pressingly in need of a considerable sum of money; and if you, ladies, could help me to it, I should never fail to look back during the rest of my life to this adventure with the liveliest sensations of gratitude and joy.” ‘Oh, it’s impossible!” said the young lady who had been reading the adventures of Rosalba. ‘* We have nothing in the shape of money with us except——” “Ah, there is an exception.” ‘Yes, we carry with us what all true knights would regard as asacred depositum.” ‘Ahem! May I ask its nature ?” “Oh, certainly! You see this young lady here ?” She pointed to one who sat nearly opposite to her. Olaude bowed. “ Well, that is my dear friend, Angela, and she is going to be married.” “Then,” said Claude, ‘I take the present opportunity of wishing her every possible happiness which she ca» enjoy in that state.” he confusion which Angela now witnessed only made her look more charming than ever. She thanked Claude for his good wishsa WS. » perfectly intelligible glance. “ And the deposiium ?” he asked. ‘That is her dower—her marriage portion.” ‘‘ And have you that in the carriage with you?” “Yes, in three begs, each one containing a thousand pounds,” Claude looked amazed. He was scarcely prepared for the exhibition towards himself of such an amount of confidences, The brido elect looked as though she ccnsidered her friend somewhat indiscreet. BLACK BESS; OR, ~~ 1 es | . hte a 4% ‘ aot es ~~ mi oN oy : : \ » “T shoutd think that is rather an unsafe way o! carry~ ing money.” — ‘But who is to know of it ?” “Why, I do for one.” * But that does not matter.” “T am glad to hear that,” answered Claude, with a smile. ‘But you remember what I told you about my wants 2?” ; ‘Oh yes; but now we have explained this to you of course you will not think of touching it.” Claude was amused at the confident tone in which the young girl spoke. ‘‘My wants are so very pressing,” he said, “ that——” He was regarded with surprise and suspicion. ‘ Really,” he continued, “if yeu only knew now many misfortunes I have experienced latety you would not be surprised at my mnportunacy. If there was time I would relate them to you at full; asit is, I must leave them to your imagination. Such asum as you mention as having with you would relieve me of the whole of my troubles, and as for the bridegroom, surely he would be content to be united to so much personal beauty without wishing for the riches.” The words, and, above all, the manner in which they were spoken, awoke the girls from the illusion in which they had indulged. They began to see their incaution in its proper light, ne felt that the wedding portion was already as good as ost. ‘‘ T__T—am afraid,” said the girl who had been read- ing, ‘that you have been deceiving us.” ‘“‘T have not indeed.” * You cannot be a knight—I begin to fear that——” ‘“Nay—nay, be under no apprehension; I would not injure you for the world.” ‘“‘T mean I begin to believe that so far from being a knight, you—you are only——==” ‘Only what ?” «A high——” “ Wayman ?” Yes!” “Surely you would not call me by so harsh 6 name ?” ‘‘ That depends upon your demeanour, sir.” “ Then I’m afraid you will have to think harshly of me, If I was not so much pressed I would allow you to pass free, but asit is——” They were all pale now and trembling. “T regret to say that I must have the dower ; and you will always beable to have the satisfaction of reflecting that it will be of infinitely more service to me than it could possibly be to the intended bridegroom.” ‘‘ Nay, nay—do not be so cruel !” = The cruelty is on your side, fair ladies, to deny me thus.” ‘‘ Must you have it ?” ‘* | must.” The bride elect burst out into a passion of tears, She sobbed as though her heart would break. ‘* Must you have all ?” the other asked again. Claude’s heart was touched by the distress he witnessed--so much so that his heart seemed in danger of melting altogether, for he was one that could not bear to contemplate the spectacle of a fair and lovely being in tears, and know himself to be the cause. ‘“‘T will not take all,” he said after a momentary pause ; “and do not any Jonger accuse me of harshness or cruelty.” ‘‘ How much du you asmand, then ?” ‘One-third only of tue whole amount. Surely you will consider that proposition a reasonable one. My , urgent needs will be tomporarily supplied, and the bride will suffer no great Joss of fortune.” Every occupant of the carriage was by this time half fainting with terror, The bride half dried her tears. Then, stooping down, she pulled from beneath the seat a smali ralise. So great was her agitation that she could scarcely insert the key into the lock. At length she succeeded, and produced a bag, which was evidently very weighty. It was handed to Claude, who lowered his eyes when i he received it, for he could tell that all the ladies were EComichbooks.com