Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

1756 BLACK BESS ; OB : . Ie sis Not one word of this discourse had reached her ears— | however, reached Maud’s ears—* silence, idiot! Do you or, at any rate, nopa had penetrated to her understand- | want to spoil all ?” . ing. ® There could be no mistaking the meaning of that &ZO. It would have had the effect of warning Maud and putting her upon her guard; but she beheld it not. The glance meant murder. The word was expressed almost as unmistakably es it it had been uttered by the lips. His wife’s instigations had produced a partial eect. The man had all the inclination to commit the hidevas crime, but he lacked the courage to set about is. But his wife, noticing his irresolution, and perceiving too that some impression had been made, continued with her urgings. ‘‘What are you afraid of, John?” she hissed in his ear—“ what do you dread 2” “Suppose she should get away ?” “ We must prevent it.” “Why not do the deed yourself ?” ‘A fine idea, truly! You want the money, do you not? Wouldn’t such asum as that set you up in the ai again? Look what rings she has on her fingers, too ” “T cannot do it.” “ But I say you can and shall! You must do it!” He shook his head and shuddered. “Who is to know?” urged his wife. ‘‘ What have ou to fear? Surely we can master her easily enough. ot a soul knows of her presence here—no one will know then. You saved her, didn’t you?” “T did.” “Then what difference will it make whether she goes in the old mill-pond now or then ?” “ But—but——_” “What now ?” “Tf you—threw her in——” * Well—well ?” i. sera poas -guldegw ante be found,’ é io.” “ But it would?” “Tsay no! Wecould put her into one of the sacks and tie a weight to it—then who would see her again, I should like to know ?”’ The man recoiled. He was not quite so hardened in iniquity as his wife. “ Then—then, she would scream,” he urged. ‘ Rothing of the kind—nothing of the kind] There —take this! Tfakeit, ]say! What are you frightened of ? That will do the business!” Not without considerable difficulty, the woman slipped something into her husband’s hand. She stole stealthy glances at Maud all the time, who atill sat unconscious of what was going on. The something thus stealthily conveyed was a knife. A bright, sharp, crusl-looking weapon, well suited for such a deed as that which they had in contempla- tion. The man’s cheek blanched as he gazed upon it. “Now, then,” whispered his wife, ‘‘what could be more easy? Look where she sits like one in some deep sleep. One stride will take you to her side—one stroke with the knife will——" ‘© Hush—hush |” Maud moved and looked up. She had just then made up her mind that she would, in spite of all hazards, leave the hut and resume her search for Dick. She fancied that her strength was now adequae fo such a task. But the man at once jumped to the conclusion that she had either overheard what had been passing between ai wife and nimself, or else that she suspected their ésicn. How very true it is that a guilty conscience stands in Geed of no accuser. He trembled excessively, and it is a thousand wonders -hat the knife did not fall from his strengthless hand. “{ did not mean it, miss,” he said, abjectly—“ indeed ~windeed I didn’t!” Maud regarded him with unmixed surprise. * Mean what?” she asked. “ Silence, tool !” said the woman, in a low tone, which, Maud wondered what was meant. Some inward kind of presentiment camy over her at this moment. Without knowing exactly how, she became conscious that she was menaced by danger of some kind or other. Lsut of what precise nature she could form no ascurate idea, so that she felt particularly uneasy. I'he looks of the man and his wife by no means pieased her, but she scarcely thought of them, for she intended to leave the place without delay. At this moment the woman came forward with a great affectation of hypocritical solicitude. “Don’t pay any attention to my husband, miss,” she said, in sycophantic tones, which grated terribly on Maud’s ears. ‘He is a good enough man in his way, but a little bit odd at times. Don’t take any notice of him, but let me know what you may please to want.” | “T want nothing further, thank you,” said Maud, quietly. “I am about to take my departure now: and I must again and again thank you for the attention you have paid me. It shall not go unrewarded.” Maud placed her hand in her pocket, intending te draw forth her purse. Of course she would have liberally recompensed these people with its contents. But the purse was gone. The woman had taken good care to remove it Maud at once stepped back into the adjoining room, fancying she must have left the money there. “Now, John Costard,” hissed the bold, bad woman, ‘“what are you going todo? We have got the money— you know we have. She will find out the robbery in a moment; and just tell me whether you feel ready to go to the gallows, when you have such @n easy means of getting out of it? She will scream out, and all the neighbours will hear her. Then, when it is too late, you will wish you had taken my advice.” These last words seemed to work more upon the mak than any which had previously been uttered. | His lips moved convulsively, while he grasped the handle of the murderous-looking knife with a savage rip. “One stroke,” cried his wife, urgently—‘ only one, and then all is over. Mind, there must be no second blow !” The miller seemed to have made up his mind at last. It appeared that he could no longer withstand the in- citement of his wifo. With stealthy steps he made his way across the rough | flooring to the doorway through which Maud had just ~— passed. au just as he reached it she appeared upon the thresh- old. Maud started back, uttering a loud scream of terror. There was no possibility of mistaking the purpose of those to whom she had been giving so much credit for kindness and charity. ** Too late!” groaned the man. “No, no!” shrieked his wife. ‘ Forward—forward! If she escapes now we are as good as hanged already! Stop her—stop her, I say !” ; Worked up to the highest pitch, the man made a blun- dering rush forward with the full resolution of putting an end to the matter before he could have time for further reflection. - But Maud eluded him without much troublo, for t ar : movements compared to his were those of a fawn to on L elephant. . evertheless, she was almost half dead with terror. In the extremivy of her fear, however, she caugh' sight of an ol rusty sword, which was hanging againa one of the walls. @ To rush towards this spot and to seize the wean : took her so little time that the man seemed stupified 4 with amazement when he saw the sword in her hand. e Maud grasped it by the hilt, and heldit before herina posture of defence. Ss Her life was dear nt only to herself but to others, and therefore she resolved not to resign it to these murderous wretches without a strugge. out She saw, too what an arrant coward she hadto deal comicbooks.com