Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

:: i a A aE Se SE ET TT, APY Eien oy Te, 118 CHAPTER LXXX. LORD LOMMULL’S REMORSE AND REPENTANC™ °°" BUT OF SHORT DURATION. ‘Come in! ” roared Jonathan, in reply to a faint tap-cap upon the panel of his office-door, abcut ten minutes alter Pinching Tom had taken his departure, ‘‘ come in.” “ Quilt Arnold, Mr. Wild,” said Wilkinson. ** Has he his prisoner ? ” ** Yes sir.” “Tell him to take hi. co No. 7, and there leave him until further instructions.” “Yes, Mr. Wild.” ‘Ts anyone else waiting for me ?”’ “The gentleman who went with us last night.” ‘‘ Send him here, then; but stop a moment. Did he see Quilt bring in the prisoner ?”’ ‘No, sir, 1 took care of that. He is in No. 2, with the door shut.” Right ; I’ll come myself.” Jonathan got down off his stool, and stalked into the passage. The first thing that there met his view was the prisoner Quilt Aruold had brought in. Who that prisoner was the reader can perhaps guess. It was Lord Donmull’s accomplice, Steggs. A glance of mutual hate passed between these two men, but as he was gagged Steggs could not speak, and as for Jonathan he disdained to do so. “Take him to No. 7, Quilt.” ‘Yes, sir; he has given us a great deai of trouble.” ‘Ha! ha!” ** He has, indeed.” 1 don’t doubt it, Quilt, only { laughed ‘ha! ha!* be- cause I thought, just as you spoke, how soon his troubles would be over.” “Ho! ho!” Arnold thought he had better laugh at Wild’s plea- santry. But he soon repented it. Jonathan had his cudgel] in his hand, and he hit lim a rather sharp crack with it, as he said— “Don’t laugh when I do, Quilt ; recollect that in future. Into No. 7 with hin.” Quilt rnbbed his head, and dragged the struggling DEL off, whose doom Jonathan considered quite sealed. As soon as they had fairly departed, Wild went to the door of the little waiting-room, and opening it a few inches peeped in. Lord Donmn]] was looking out into the street as well as the smoke and dirt-begrimed panes would Jet him. * Good morning, my lord,” said Wild. “ Sorry to keep you waiting. Come upstairs.” Abel Donmull followed Jonathan up the stairs to the room in which he had sat during a former interview. He glanced uneasily around, and sank into a chair. * You don’t look well, my lord,’ said Wild, as he, too, took a seat, and noticed the ghastly paleness of his lord- ship’s countenance. ‘‘ What is there amiss now ?” ** Nothing more—nothing more.” Then all is well. Pour out some brandy, my lord; you will be better then.” “The girl ?” “She is safe underneath this house,’ was the reply. ** Where,” he added, in a lower key, “ for a consideration she can remain until such time as you may think fit to order her release.” “Wild, Wild,” said Lord Donmull, remorsefully, ‘‘ my life is a miserable burden to me. Iam racked by a thou- sand hopes and tears. If this state of mind continues I shall wear myself into the grave.” *€ Beyond all doubt you will if you do not rouse yourself from these gloomy fancies and baseless fears. Pluck up your spinit, for now is the time to do so. You have all in your own hands now! You can secure yourself in any way you may think proper.” “Wild?” . an my vial e 1s quite safe, you say ?” “ Qnite.” ee ** How does she seem, Wild ?” *¢ What do you mean, my lord ?” ** Do you think, do you think that if I went to her, Wild, BLUESKIN : pr A SS ny A ROMANCE. and told her what I had done-—do you think she would forgive me, aud be content to receive back her own,” * Are you mad?” “No, no, not mad, but sick at heart. Show me where to find her, Wild, and I will make the attempt.” “Calm yourself,” said Jonathan, with a derisive grin. “Calm yourself. You must be mad to think of such a thing. Besides, I cannot allow you to make snch an offer.” What ?” “Do not storm. It will have no effect. I simply mean what I say. I cannot allow it.” Lord Donmull looked at Wild with speechless surprise. “You seem to forget, my lord, the little bargain between us. I cannot afford to waste my time to no purpose, and if you resign your possessions, how are you to fulfil your contract. Cease to think of it. My lord, you are wholly in my power.” “Lord Donmull sat aghast when he saw how deeply he was committed to the villain before him. He repented of his misdeeds. Would have made all the reparation in his power. But, like many others, his repentance came too late. “'{'o-morrow,’ continued Wild, after a pause, “ you will be calmer, and then you will feel thankful to me for having acted in the way I have. The excitement of the past tew days have been too much for you. You must have rest and quiet for a time, and then all will be well. You can have nothing whatever to fear so long as you keep your word to me. The girl’s safe custody I will answer for.” ‘Where is Steggs ?”’ “ He, too, is quite safe. Drnk, my lord. Success to yourself—confusion to your toes!”’ ie aa pushed a brimming glass of brandy across the table. Lord Donmull took it with a quivering hand, and, putting it to his lips, drained the contents at one draught. The effects of solarge a quantity of raw spirit were just what might have been expected. His remorse vanished, and he became the bold unscru- pulous man he had ever been. Jonathan watched him anxiously. He was playing a very deep game, was Wild. The stakes were high, for, as will be seen, he aimed at the possession of the entire estates. Therefore it would not suit his purpose to let Abel come in contact with the persecuted heiress, much less ip the humour he then appeared to be. “Tam old, Wild, now,” he said; “‘ I have no children of my own; JI cannot hope to retain much longer the es- tates and wealth I have held wrongful possession of for so many years. Therefore I wish, ere it be too late, to atone for what I have done.”’ ‘Still harping on the same string.” **T cannot help it! God knows, I cannot help it!” cned the wretched man, as he sprang nervously to his feet and paced the room. Surely what he then saw ought to have made Jonathan aware that there is such a thing as retribution for evil deeds iu this world, and that punishment of sins begins on earth; bnt he did not. He only mocked at his com. panion’s weakness, for so he termed it. ‘¢ J shall have some trouble with him yet, I am afraid; curses on his pusillanimity. I will make another attempt, and see how far I am successful.” pond Doumull had again thrown himself into his chair. “Look here, my lord. Listen to me.” What isit?” You are out of health. The harass of the last few weeks, coupled with the fatigue you have undergone, has worn you out. A few days’ rest will put all mght again, and then I shall hear you thank me for persuading you to acu as I do.” ‘What do you advise ?”’ “Tn the first place to makea strong effort to dismiss the whole of this business from your mind.” **T cannot.” “You must try.” *€ T tell yon I cannot.” “ But what have yon to dread P His lordship was silent. 12) ae ; < “Sb GOMIGIOO SS} o(CO) am