Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

1438 * Bat,” said Tom, ‘oan we not set it down as im- possible—as some mistake? Closely watched as the prison has been, how can he have left it ?”’ Old Matthew put his finger by the side of his nose with a very wise expression. Then glancing around ard speaking in a suppressed tone, he said: . **T have an idea.” ‘An idea? but of what «ind P”’ “ About this affair. I may be wrong, you know, but yot I have been putting two and two together.”’ *“Go on, Matthew,’’ said the others, feverish with impatience, for they knew how great were his powers in arriving at the solution of any difficulty. * Well,” he said, ‘‘ I incline to the belief that the King acted in good faith afterall, and that theletter you de- livered was to the effect that Diok Turpin should be re- leased. But didn’t the King tell you,” he added, turning to Tom, “‘ that it was not in his power to grant a proper pardon because of the strong feeling his ministers had on the subject ?”’ “Yes, he certainly said that, or something to the game effect.’ * Just so. Well, then, under the circumstances, what would be the most probable letter he would address to the Governor? If you observe, the messenger appeared to have been sent off with some secrecy ; you might judge that by the time of night. Then the letter might command the Governor to let Dick out of Newgate somehow, secretly—stating that the Governor would be held free from the consequences of such an act.’’ _ Tom clapped his hands together. ‘ “You have hit it, Matthew,” he cried, enthusiasti- cally—‘‘ you have hit it! Now you speak, all comes over me with the full force of conviction. That’s it— we ought to have thought of it before.’’ Old Matthew shook his head. ‘* [t’s only an idea, understand,’’ he aaid, “and it may be & very long way off the truth, yet to me there seems a very strong degree of probability about it.” ‘'Fhere seems something more thau probability to mo,” said T'om. ‘* And to us also,’’ added his two companions. ** Certainly,’ said Matthew, ‘‘it solves all our diffi- sulties at once, and if I only knew for certain that Dick had escaped I should feel more confidence in it than ever,”’ ‘Well, we must try and ascertain that; but if Dick has escaped, surely he would make his way to Baling.” “Yes, it may be that he is already there.”’ ‘© Let us start off at once,’’ cried ‘Tom, “No — no,”’ replied Matthew; ‘’ restrain yourself ; don’t be blind to your own dangcz ; it wilt be quite dif- ficult enough for youto make your way liere by dark, and as the day now is half gone [ should recommend you to stay, besides, by nightfall, we sliai! have certain information.’”’ With some difficulty the highwaymen allowed them- selves to be persuaded by their old friend. Matthew also entreated them to use their best endea- vours to get a little repose. He assured them that they would be in perfect safety, as he would watch over them personally, and give them timely warning of the approach of danger. It was soon after this that he left them, and, by dint of making inquiries in various directions, received confirmation of the intelligence that had already been imparted to him. ‘The execution had not certainly taken place, and he felt telerably sure that it would not be delayed except from some such cause as that named. About dusk he again sought the parlour. But looking in, he perceived that the three highway- men were al! sleeping soundly. On making this discovery he closed the door softly. *“ fet them stay,”’ he murmured; “it is better thus; they will awake thoroughly refreshed, and equal to any emergency that may arise.’’ On that particular night old Matthew felt no very great apprehension of a visit from the police ofiicers. It was rarely indeed that they visited his premise two days running. Some might be watching around, but yet, if such was the ease. he had good hopes of ¢: jiing the highway meu out unseen. 7"? "9 ‘i Lim "© sae hd fete ee oe? a> 7 Pa Crees 44 . | om OM ow AC - ¥ MF é Dein! ~ a els LL Psy}. he es ee s t ant Whe ¢ 1 erties “a a. 25 VS * t 7 , j at FE ‘ c — a eo 6 arent e ij a, +5 2 4 > ay Bo? * ea «3 3 - . poten * 7 "| : : « BLACK BESS; OR, Claude Duval was the first to awake. He had fallen off to sleep unconsciously, and for a moment could scarcely make cut where he was. For one thing the darkness confused him, but in awaking he aroused his two comrades, and they, like himself, could scarcely believe that night had come. Directly after this Matthew paid them another visit. ** You are awake now, I see,’’ he said, with a smile. ** Yes, yes—but the news P”’ i ‘*Good,’’ was the answer. ‘ The excsution has not taken place to-day, and on every hand I[ receive nothing but confirmation of the news that Dick Turpin has been successful in making his escape, though how on earth he has managed it baffles everybody.”’ Simultaneously the three highwaymen drew long breaths of relief. “Tt is at least a great comfort to know,”® said Tom King, ‘‘ that there has been no execution at Tyburn to- day. Iconsider that points conclusively to the fact that Dick has escaped from Newgate; had he been safe in his prison the sentence of the law would most cer- tainly have been carried out.”’ “I incline to that opinion too,’’ said old Matthew ; and it is my belief that if you will mount your horses and ride off to the Three Spiders, that you will find him there awaiting your arrival.’’ ‘Then let us go at once,”’ said Claude, with great energy. ‘I am full of curiosity to know first whether this good news is really true, and if so, by what mys- terious agency Dick got out of Newgate.”’ ‘That you will be sure to learn from his own lips,” said Matthew, smiling; ‘‘ and I suppose, as it is quite dark and altogether an uncomfortable night, I shall not be able to persuade you to stay with me any longer,’’ ‘* No—no, Matthew,” returned Tom, “ not a moment longer, yet before we leave we must express to you how grateful we are for what you have done in our behalf.” ** Pooh—pooh !”’ “‘Tt’s all very fine to say pooh, pooh, Matthew, but that doesn’t alter the case in the least. Look at this last hiding-place of yours, for instance—it most as- suredly saved us, and yet you could not have con- structed it without great exyense and trouble.” ** And you think I mind either. No, no—nct a bit.”’ * Well, Matthew,’’ continued Tom, ‘‘I have made up my mind to this as soon as I see the captain; I shall relate everything to him, and then we shall decide upon a testimonial of some sort which we shall insist upon your acceptance of.’’ “ Well,”’ returned old Matthew, “if you put it in that light I don’t mind. And now, then, where do you say you left your horses ?”’ The place was described. ‘“‘ Did you thing of going for them yourselves P”” ** What do you think ?’”’ ‘* Why, that it would be unwise.’’ ‘© Who shall we send, then P” ‘*T have a little fellow here who will perform the task to your entire satisfaction.” **Can he be trusted P”’ ‘Oh, yes, he ought to be. I knew his father well in years gone by, aud befriended him on many occasions, This is his only child; he is an orphan, and unfor- tunately both deaf and dumb.” ‘‘ Then he ought to be faithful.” “Yes: if he only takes atter his father he will be faithful enough in all conscience, but I am not afraid.” ‘‘ Well, then, will you send him ?” “ T will,” ‘* At once?” ‘© Yes, Shonid you like to see him ?P”’ ‘Tf you have no objection.” ‘None in the ieast.’’ Old Matthew left the parlour, and shortly afterwards returned with a boy about fourteen years of age. He was a very singular specimen of humanity indeea, with short legs, long arms, and a disvropertisnais head and body. He wasattired with that gaudiness which gencrally characterises deformed persons. In his own opinion he was of great importance indeed, | yet, as he followed old Matthew into the rocm something after the manner of an obedient-dog, there was a peculiar ghufile in his gait, a bend in his shoulders, and a restless. m (eo) ,OO G <S) co