Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

oy R x - ~ wey yh : re Sal j “ nation.” indeed 1” practices in which yog have indulged—I will never close shem ; therefore, before we can be friends, you mxst con- sent to change your present mode of life.” ‘“‘Tam willing to obey you in all thinge reasonable,” was the reply; “but I think you go tou far—you pry tco deeply into my concerns.” ““No, no—I do not, Frederick,” returned the King, with more tenderness of manner and tone than he had yet displayed. “But I remember what I was at your age,and nowlam filled with regret and remorse for what I was. I see you treading the same downward, ruinous path, and I am anxious to save you the years of misery that Ihave passed.” _«” The Prince was silent. ; ‘You have around you,” he continued, “a set of men whose names are loathed and execrated by the whole nation. While you continue to keep them, so to speak, as a body-guard around you, we cannot be friends, nor can you win the respect and good-will of the English nation.” The Prince was silent for a few moments, and the Queen added: ‘Frederick, you hear the words just pronounced—you feel as well as I do that they are correct. Now comes the moment for you to decide. It is between us and the per- sons just alluded to that you have to choose, so which shall it be?” « At this moment there was an unusual disturbance just outside the conservatory. The King uttered an ejaculation, and Tom King al- lowed the leaves to fall into their places, which hoe had ah aside in order to watch the proceedings of the ing. He knew very well that the noise proceeded from the soldiers who were without, and who were desirous of searching in tke conservatory for him. Loud voices were heard, and then the door was gently opened. The personage addressed as Willis just initedod his head. * Your Majesty ” he began. The King interrupted him with a snarling, impatient sound. “Your Majesty, a detachment of the guard is without in search of “ Yah—bah! Shut the door! say we would not be disturbed 2” Thus admsznished, Willis closed the door, and Tom heard him say: ‘It’s all very well for you to tell me that you have searched all through the gardens and can find no one, and that in consequence the man you are in search of is ; hidden here—I tell you it cannot be so! The King is there, and I have been watching ever since; but if you are not satisfied, wait till the King leaves; you cas go in then and search to your hearts’ content.” Some words were muttered by way of reply to this, but what they were Tom could not catch. Turning his attention once more upon the royal party, he saw the Prince of Wales had stepped forward a pace or two, and was holding out his hand. ‘Let there be a reconciliation!” he was saying. “ My own folly I can see now only tooplainly. Let us be good friends, as we should be, but do not seek to curb me too much ; it is not my fault that I am impatient oi the least control.” Lh! ‘‘ Les it be so, Frederick,” said the Kinz, exten?:ag ors hand—“ let it be so, and let us rejoice that on tnis ucca- sion you disobeyed me. WhenI heard you were in the saloon my anger was great ; now, however, al! hastarned out well.” The Queen was quite overcome with joy at this «x :% of the meeting; it was more—far more—than she Lad Cared to expect. ‘Come, George,” she said,g let us return to tie saloons ; tlho sooner it is known that the misunderstanding between you ead frecerick’is cleared up the better it will be” Begone! Did we not - THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD wrong of ali of us, and it is a bad example to set the Ms | « Yes,” interjected the Queen—~“a very bad example “Yrederick,” said the King, sternly, “no one Kuuws better than yourself that ¢his is all your own doing and your own bringing on. I cannot close my eyes to the 1438 ‘ No—no,” said the King—“ not this moment — rat this moment! Leave me, both of you—I will follow soon —ieave me, 1 say; I wish to be alone !” The Queen knew her husbura’s nature too well .3 aitemmpt to thwart him in any way, and therefore pre- pared to obey without another word. ‘Yhe Prince drew her hand beneath his arm, and they left the conservatory together. W hex they had gone, the King began to pace upand duwn with rapid strides. There were signs of great vaxation, remorse, and anguish on his countenance; but by what produced, who could tell ?” Perhaps it was this unexpected reconciliation with his son that had affected him so deeply, or perhaps it was that some momory of the past came back to him, bringing with it nothing but misery and sadness. So strange was the King’s whole manner, and so well did his face portray the uneasiness of his mind, that Tom could not avoid gazing upon him for some time in silence. “Well,” he thought, ‘who would believe that that miserable, dejected-looking, ‘prematurely old man is the King of England ?” Rousing himself from these thoughts, however, Tom suddenly recollected the purpose he had to accomplish. Chance had favoured him to a degree that ke had not dared to hope for. The King was now aione, and what would be so easy as to step forth and confront him. | In his present mood, would he not be more tikely to listen to his application and to be inclined to an act of mercy ? Surely yes. - There was only one fear. Sav That was, as soon as he caught sight of the intruder he would utter such a cry as would have the effect of calling his attendant, Willis, into the conservatory, when the highwayman’s discovery would be inevitable. That risk had to be run, and Tom made up his mind to delay no longer, for he could not tell what moment the King might take it into his head to leave. Such a chance as this once lost would probably never be regained. Watching his opportunity, then, he slowly and gently left his verdant hiding-place. The King’s back was towards him. Concealed by some of the shrubs, Tom waited until hs turned round in his restless walk and came past. Then, holding the locket open in his hand, he stepped forward. “Your Majesty,” he said, bowing deeply, and speaking in a low, respectful voice—“ will your Majesty deigu to look at this ?” The King started, as well he might, at this unexpected intrusion. His lips parted, as though he was about to give vent to that cry, the consequences of which were so much feared by ‘om. But just then his eyes fell upon the open locket, aed immediately a strange and wondrous alteration overspread his features. He stepped back a pace. His lips opened wider, his eyes dilated, and he pressed one hand upon his forehead. He made several gasping attempts to speak. .“* What—what,” he said, at last, in a hoarse whisper-— “‘what—what is it that you hold before me? Take it away —takeit away! Is itreal or some delusion ? Have I pondered over this eveat in my past life until my fancy has cunjured up this relic? What—what—what——” ‘Your Majesty,” said Tom, in the same respectful voice, * it is no fancy, but reality. I have been charged to aeliver the locket into your hands, aud, at the peril of my life, I have done so.” While he spoke, Tom let the open locket fall izto the Kiay’e outstretched hand. CHAPTER DCCOLXV. TOM KINGS STRANGE INTERVIEW WITH HIS MAJESTY & THE CONSERVATORY. Gus King closed bis hand convuisively, and ‘hen, in a | changed Vries, said: (E(0) EOANIE OO KS (7)