Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

ae eae el Bs ate LS de ling a ? Silo “4 , ; nee ; See f & ; ‘i “ ‘Gare “What do you mean by that?” | ; Matthew smiled. Pe. “ Why, you see,” said Matthew, “ youhave placed moin| “I am content” he said—quite content. And ari a& very awkward position.” ** Indeed !—how ?” Why, by aot permitting me to deny %3.” _ * Would you have the audacity 2” “Yes, certainly I would, and I assure you vaat you must have been deceived in some way-—how, I can’t pro- tend to tell. But why do you think I should kave aby communication with the prisoner ?” ‘Oh, it’s all very fine, Matthew; but I’ve head your character over and over again, and mark me this—you will have to be ten times more careful and clever tnan ever you have been to escape us. Let us ence catch goa, and see if we are not down on you.” “T don’t doubt it,” said Matthew; “but I take ail sucn threats with composure—I am not at all afraid.” * Well, confound your impudence!” said the officer. ‘¢One would think, to hear you speak, that you were a much-injured man, and never credit that this house is known throughout London as being one of the chiet resorts of all members of the ‘Famiiy,’ and especially the flash ones.” ‘‘T have enemies,” said Matthew, with a sigh—‘ men who will say anything against me. Will you allow me to ask you one question ?” ‘Oh yes, by all means.” “Well, then, have you or any other officer ever found anything to warrant your suspicions when making a search in my house ?” ** Yes, plenty to make us suspicious,” was the answer ; u out luckily for you, we have not been able to get at the roofs.’ “Oh, that’s the way with you,” said Matthew. just tell me what you expect to find.” ‘Well, then, I don’t mind if Ido. We expect to find some of Dick Turpin’s comrades here, and if they are beneath this roof—as we firmly believe them to be—we will have them.” “And why do you imagine such an unlikely thing as that ?’gsaid Matthew. . “Unlikely? What other conclusion could we come to upon finding that a turnkey was running backwards and forwards between here and Newgate allthe time? You, I daresay, have not had a direct communication with the prisoner, but, then, does it not point to the fact that there is some one in this house, interested in his fate, who has ?” Old Matthew regarded the officer with admiration. Then drawing along breath and shaking his head, he Sapiok eee “Oh! it’s a pity-—a great pity.’ “* What’s a pity ?” ae teste | “ Why, that men should mistake their vocations. Now, what a mistake you must have made in becoming a police oficer.” pate ‘‘ Bah! nonsense !” yas 2 “T stick to it,” ‘lawyer you would have made if you had only given your i attention to it; I never heard anybody speak so much ; _ like one in my life, never—never.” - The officer hardly knew whether to feel flattered or offended at these remarks. Accordingly he passed them over without notice. “To the point, Matthew.” ne said. ‘You are very likely surprised fhat 1 shoula be remaining nere like _ this talking to you so quietly ; but just let me alarm you a little.”’ “Alarm me ?” repeated Matthew, with a start. “Yes; while I am here keeping such good watch on all your movements, a lot of my men are round the building, some more are searching the cellars, some more are searching the rooms upstairs, and others are on the roof.”’ : **Of course you have a warrant ?”’ ** Oh yes, I have a warrant; don’t think I should put | myself in the power of such a Gangercus customer as you are. No, no—I know better than that.” ‘* Well,’ said Matthew, ‘i hope the search will soon be over, anc that you will leave me in peace.”’ ~~ The search will soon be over,” said the officer— ** that is, if we find those we are in search of, and in the event of so doing, why, off you go along with us, and your business may tale care of itself as best it may.” “But said Matthew; “just think what a am to sit is this chair during your good will and tea a Yos.” “Oh, it might be worse—much worse; perhaps you dou’t object to my drawing a little nearer to the fire ? “Oh no.” @ “Well, that’s a comfort; Iam just going to finish my glass; perhaps you would all like a drop of something 2” The officers behind their chief in a moment looked as though they should very much, - ‘* Well,” said the one in command, stvoxing his chin, “just a little perhaps wouldn't be amiss.” “Very likely,” said Matthew, changing his tone and speaking with resolution; “but I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Officers, 1’ll see you all jolly well d—d before you have a drop of anything that's in my house, except, mind you, when you succeed in capturing those you speak of, and then, why you shall be welcome $o the best there is in the cellar, and to as much of it as you can drink.” ‘Yes, we know that,” said the officer, pretending not to look disappointed; ‘“‘ you wouldn’t be able to help your- self then, old fellow; we should have it all our own way —not that I wanted a drop, and I’m sure not one of my men does. But you will do yourself no good, so mark that. ee Ican once catch you, you shall pay dearly for it. ‘‘ Ah, Ishouldn’t wonder,” said old Matthew, sipping his brandy-and-water with an air of satisfaction that was aggravating indeed to the officers, and especially when he smacked his lips as if to say “that’s good.” ‘They are a long while upstairs,” he added; “ perhaps they may be longer, soif you have no objections, gentle- meu, I will have a quiet smoke and soothe my nerves.” CHAPTER DCCCLXXY. THE POLICE OFFICER AND OLD MATTHEW IUAVE £2 70ER A STRANGE CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTIER. Wiru the greatest possible composure, old Matthew filled his pipe, lighted it, and leaned back in his chair with the air of aman who was bent upon enjoying himself. Lhe police officers evidently looked upon his coolness with great misgivings. “Surely,” they thought, “if he has anyone concealed upon the premises he could not remain so indifferent as he appeared to be.” Had they not known old Mattke-v so well as they cid, they would have been still more of this opinion. But they were well aware that he was as cunning as a fox, and quite capable of acting in this manner on pur- pose to throw them off their guard. The fact was, Matthew felt quite secure in the excel- lence of the hiding-place he had last devised. He was perfectly certain that no one had the remotest idea of its existence except himself and those who were at that moment concealed. : Every now and then a lumbering sound would be heard above, followed by one below. On such occasions Matthew would just glance up and Gown, but no more. ‘You seem to take it d—d easy!” said the chief officer at length, for he was getting enraged. So long a time nad elapsed since his men begun to search, that he began to be terribly afraid that tha chances of their finding anybody now were small in- deed. No one’s disappointment could be greater than his. He had observed the friendly jailer going backwards and forwards, as he said, and had not unreasonably jumped to the conclusion that the reason was some of Dick Turpin’s comrades were concealed at the White Horse. : Under this impression, he had succeeded in persuad- ing his superiors to allow him to have the use of about twenty men to make a thorough search. His request was granted with great reluctance, for the authorities were most anxious to keep the prisoner they had already secured, and to that end nearly the whole available force was occupied in watching Newgate; and the Governor had by no means exaggerated when ho described how impossible it was for any living thing {e leaye the prison unseen. | me (E(@) =) a CS (E(0)