Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

1428 They called upon him, and entreated him to speak, dis- olosing his name and place of abode. Bat his lordship’s tongue was silenced for ever; he BLACK BESS; O#, stop to give you somo instructions, but 1 can’t, You must just be content to remain here.” . With that rapidity which always characterisod hie could only move his lips in vain attempts a articula-}| movements whenever danger was pressing, old Matthew on. By the shape of his lips, however, the pcople fancied that he asked for water, and so a small quantity was brought and placed to his lips. He drank it eagerly, and no sooner had he done so than, ¢8 is frequently the case under euch circumstances, he Grew a deep breath and expired, {t was terrible and strange to think he should be ever. taken by a retribution of this kind. He had perished as nearly as possible as the map had perished he had so cowardly assassinated. The poor inhabitants of the cottage were not a tittis alarmed at such an incident as this. For aught they knew, they might be regarded with suspicion, and have some difficulty in clearing them- selves. Searching in the pockets of the deccased, they found papers which disclosed his name, and title, and al] the in- formation they required. The knowledge that he was a nobleman only inereascd their terror, for they knew there would be a zreat outcry respecting his death. The particulars of the tragedy in the high-road, how- ever, never came to their ears. Lord Spindelow’s relatives were communicated with, and the body removed. Then it was that Willis, finding himself freed from his hard taskmaster, confessed all to the King. Could the unscrupulous nobleman have succeeded in his design of intercepting the messenger’s letter-bag, there is no doubt that Dick Turpin would have perished, for the King, having despatched the letter, would probably have thought no more upon the subject. We have yet to describe how the lettcr-bag was de- livered, and the effects produced by it. As will be secn, it was the means of bringing upon the highwaymen no small amount of danger. Not to anticipate, however, w6 will go back to the White Horse, and relate what followed Tom Kine’s de- Been as to his intentions regarding his com- rade. Having spoken as he did with great firmness and dignity, he glanced around upon the friends who stood near him, as if daring them to raise a word by way of odjecticn. Perbaps they felt this. Atany rate, a silence of some moments ensued, which was at last broken by old Matthew himself. CHAPTER DCCCLXXIV, THE HIGHWAYMEN DELAY TIIEIR DEPARTURE FROM THE . WHITE HORSE UNTIL TOO LATE. “WerELL, Tom,” he said, ‘a wilful man must have his own way, and so I suppose you will. As to duty or right, I say nothing at all, my only wish being to propose that which is most likely to secure the safety of all.” ‘T know that, Matthew- But 1 am so firmly bent vpon this enterprise, and I am so fully possessed with the value of this leather bag that I cannot think of allowing it to be delivered by any other hand than my own.” ‘Well, then,” said Matthew, ‘‘since that is the case, I can only wish you good luck. Let me recommend you to start at once, for the sooner Dick is out the better.” “Decidedly. Come, comrades, are youready?” ‘“? “ Wo are, quite.” “This way, then,” said Matthew—“ this way.” While he spoke, a faint clicking sound was heard He started, and looked towards the clock. The finger then stood atthe quarter past, and just as ha was raising his finger it described a complete semi- circle, stopping at a quarter to seven. “here is dangcr—immediate danger,’ he sail, in a tone of vexation. “Cenfound it! Whata pity it is we have wasted so much time in discussion! But for that, Fou light Lave started ten minutes ago, and there would kave been no trouble at all.” “But we must make the best of it.” “{ keaw that. This way—this way. I wish I could bsd crossed the parlour towards the fireplace. ‘Then, very much to the surprise of the highwaymen, who wondered what he was gvuing to do, he seized hold af one end of the chimney-picce, and puéted with all his mught. A most singular result followed. The whole of the fireplace, fire and all, came out bodily, turning on hinges fixed at the opposite side of the chimney-pieco to that at which Matthew was pulling. The effect, indeed, was just the same as if the whole of the fireplace had been a door. A dark, uncomfortable-looking cavity could be scon behind. The highwaymen hung back a little. ‘In there,” said old Matthew—“in thero—it is your only chance—and remain until I come to you again.” ‘* But——” began Tom. “Wo remonstrances—in with you! Lark! hear them now 2?” ¥'5otsteps indeed could be plainly heard, mingled with voices. Matthew thrust the highwaymen almost into tho hiding-place, then, with one quick movement, restored the fireplace to its original condition. It was done instantaneously, and no trace whatever was left toshow that it had ever been disturbed. Surely, if any hiding-place would escape the acutcness of the officers, that would. All this, that has taken so many words to describe, actually took place in a bricfer period of time than would perhaps be imagined; in fact, before anyone at a moderate speed could have counted twenty, the highwaymen were securely hidden. Old Matthew, not losing his presence of mind in the least, nor becoming flurried, turned round to the table and picked up the glasses that had just been used. He was in the act of doing this when the door of the parlour was dashed violently open, and several police officers appeared. Irom the way in which they glanced around the room, and the disappointed look which settled upon their coun- tenances, it was evident that they fully expected to find some one else there than the landlord. Old Matthew affected to be taken completcly Ly sur- prise. He let one of the glasses slip from his fingers, and it fell to the floor with a crash. Then, stepping back, he ejaculated: ‘Goodness gracious, men, how you startled me, to be sure! I never expected suchathing. Why, what on earth is the matter?” “Matter?” said the officer in command. ‘“ \Ve know you are up to your old tricks again; but mark me, old fellow—you have been successful for a long time, but you will be caught at last.” ‘Not by you, though,” said Matthew, calmly. ‘‘T don’t know that,” said the officer. ‘At any rate, I command you, upon pain of immediate arrest, to remain where you are. Sit down in thechair, and don’t leave it.” ‘But what for?” asked old Matthew. “Why should ou take these proceedings against me ?” ‘Simply because we intend to search this house.” “ What, again?” “Yes, again. It is only by repeatedly doing it that we can hope to succeed at last. and I want you there, and { want to keep my eyes upon you, so that you do nothing towards hiding anybody.” “And who should I hide ?” ‘Oh, you know best how to answer that question. but on one point I am quite confident.” ‘May I inquire what that is?” 6 Yes, certainly you may.” * Well, then, what is it ?” Why, I know, by my own observation, that you have been in cuntinual communication with Dick Turpin in Newgate. Don’t deny it, because, if you do, it will be !eqnivalent to calling me aliar. Now, I want to know Be the communication was about.” Can’t you Old Matthew shook kis beed slowly Lackwards sad forwards, iat Eomichoo G ‘S