Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

ae hha < ee ? eer? 7F8 Goon y sige a ~~ Spree 5S pe eee gazing rpen him wiih very different looks to those with ys ehick a short time before they had regarded him. he bride’s distress now much increased. Shall you really take it?” said the young lady who had carried on most of the conveisation. _ “T cannot leave it. What am I to do?” Ashe spoke, Claude placed the heavy \_, into his pocket, though his conscience smote him heavily as he The whole party was now in tears. Claude half turned away. But hisheart failed him. - Looking once more into the carriage, he said : “Believe me, ladies, { cannut depart axG easty away _ with me the knowledge that I am leaving 60 muéa acute distress behind me—I cannot—indeed, I cannot, se 4 fear that, despite all the inconveniences to which I shall _ inevitably be exposed, I must leave this wealth behind F ‘‘ Nay—nay,” said the bride, speaking only by a very great effort. “Take it, sir—take it, and depart!” | ‘‘T cannot,” said Claude. “And yet J cannot bring myself to depart altogether empty-handed. Ladies, I will tell you what I will do. Listen to my proposi- tion.” | _ The utmost curiosity was manifested. ys “ This wealth,” said Claude, producing the bag, “can be recovered—that is, if you are willing to pay ransom efor it.” ; ‘Ransom ?” Yes,” “But what ransom can we pay ?” oe Rs _ 5 J él ~y 4 * fs “One that I hope will not cost you so much reluctance nd grief as this. What say you—do you consent ?” __- hat depends upon the nature of the ransom. What - isite” — ___ Claude smiled a roguish smile, and said : “That each of you fair ladies will come one by one Ny and press your sweet and charming lips to mine. If that - is done, you are welcome to your gold, for I should prize - guch a favour above a dukedom.” _ his audacious proposal was raceived with six separate and distinct screams of dismay. ; “ Are you in earnest ?” said the lady who had heid the amp. *‘— assure you [ am.” “Then you are a most audacious wretch !” “ Just so.” ‘‘ And very ugly.” “That is why I admire your beauty so much.” 2 ‘But really, in order to get rid of such a disagreeable monster one ought to be prepared to do disagreeable things, so I will set an example to the rest. I feel that oa I am most to blame for making you acquainted with the fact of the money being with us, and that I ought to pay . “4 the penalty. Take off your hat, sir, and as I contributed _ to place that money in your: possession, I will do my best to recover it.” _ With these words, she rose and shook her curls care- _ Jessly and yet saucily from her brow. _ Claude, with a throbbing heart, removed his hat. _ His veins tingled with anticipated pleasure. _ The young girl drew back once or twice without having the courage to carry out her intention. Her colour rose to her very temples, for she could ob- serve what glances of intense admiration Claude bent ‘upon her. ‘Suddenly she bent forward and just touched tho high - Wwayman’s lips with hers. ___ So quickly and so lightly was the act performed, tha a _ bystander might well save been iz some doubt whet’ er _ the salute was given or not , ae - But in spite of its transiency, Claude was in no doabt _ upon the subject. ~The light, scarcely-perceptible pressure of der lips upon his own thrilled through every nerve and fibre of his _ body like an electrie shock, only the fecling was one of _ the most intense and intoxicating pleasure that can by eas possibility be conceived. __ Claude was confused—overpowered. _ __He was recalled to himself by hearing her say: ; ~ i> . + Rs - ie lOO => ~ ? -—* -* oy tees ma ip Pie ie rts o- ~~ : - " » ’ : “e . THE KNIGUT OF THE ROAD. ‘ _— awe: eee weer eee ee ee ee Lr. ©. = er ‘cn © at ” “There, sir, your claim is gaid. Now, then,” she on- Ran ed, ee follow my example, and then #2 shall the so. ner ¢ ’ im. 1738 e But the manner in which she spoke clearly showed that she was by no means so displeased with Ciaude as her words would have led anyone to imagine. The bride elect was the next who paid her share of the ransom, and the others, after many pretty delays, fel- lowed. The Jast kiss was given, but none impressed Clauds like the first. | “Here is the prize,” he said, as be surrendered the bag of gold. ‘Take it; and my fervent wishes will always be for your happiness and welfare! Farewell!” “Stay,” said the young girl. “You have forgotten the lamp.” Claude in his excitement had forgotten it. He gave it pack with a smile, and as he did so his fingers came in contact with hers. | He would have given much to have pressed it in his own. “Once more, ladies,” he said, ‘farewell! I trust you will perform the remainder of your journey unmo- lested.” ‘We have very little further to go.” Claude once more raised his hat and bowed. “ Stay [” said the young girl again. He stopped at once. ‘““Now and ever,” he exclaimed, fervently, ‘I am at your commands.” - You will not leave us until we know who you are ?” ‘‘ & wandering knight.” “Yes, I know—you said that!” she answered, half im- patiently. ‘What I want to hear is your name.” “ Tt—it is——” “Yes, yes. Whate” “Claude Duval!” The announcement was received with the utmosi 4s- tonishment conceivable. But Claude would not linger now ‘Come, Jack,” he cried, ‘‘away—away !” He galloped off as he spoke, leaving his comrade to follow him. They did not pull up until the next hill was reached “ Well, Claude, what luck ?” “ Wh ?” said Claude, with a start, for his thoughts were so busily engaged that he had not heard his companion’s question. ‘What luck, I say ?” ‘‘ None, if you mean booty.” ‘ How! did not I hear something about three thousand pounds ?” ‘* Yes.” ‘‘ Let me know.” Claude related the adventure. “And you actually had a thousand pounds in your hands ?” asked Jack. “] believe so.” ¢ And you gave it back ?” I did. I could not find it in my heart to keep it.’ “Ah, Claude, my friend, it is all very fine for you to say that, but it seems to me preity clear that my turn ought to come next, for you had decidedly the best of that adventure.” qa = CHAPTER MXXVIII. IOM KING HEARS UNEXPECTED [IDINGS OF MAUD, AND SUCCEEDS IN EFFECTING AN ENTRANCE INTO [ilk JOLLY TAR INN. Leavinae Sixteen-String Jack and Claude Duval for awhile, we now revert to the proceedings of Tom King, whose adventures on this particular night will be found to possess no ordinary amount of interest. Tbe route which he took was exactly that which Maud had followed. Of this ho was ignorant, though he knew he was making his way towards the Jolly Tar Inn, so that he was par- ticularly careful in all his movements. &s ho thus slowly rode down the lane, looking keenty in every direction, he fancied he saw somo glittering ob- ject lyi.g upon the ground. It caught his eye only for a moment. ee He stopped, however, and proceeded to searsh ore osely. EORNTKELOO) € S (E(0)