Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

rR a ee a cent eens fe ara ee Nampa nae ee ab OD — eine ee” Vperteentih rain i epee errr le AI. Se CTS OT TAA EE I AES RAS TO REI I I I A SAT tI A A A 1 ¢ ores ewe wor" ee — = = = et A a I AD Opa EE AE SaaS UG 134 yature must deplore. He says :— ‘There are certain themes the interest of which is all- absorbing, but which are too entirely horrible for the purposes of legitimate fiction. These the mere romancist must eschew if he does not wish to offend or to disgust. And so, although wa are in possession of many facts relative to the “mysteries of London,” yet we shall for- bear giving them for the reasons so well and ably ex- sradhedin the preceding paragraph. But we shall certainly follow Jonathan Wild upon his night excursion to the “ Pied Bull,” for the circumstances are full of interest. _= It was about half an hour after midnight that two dusky-looking forms paused opposite the public-house in question. | In a few minutes they were joined by two more, and then by two again, until presently about a dozen had assembled. They were Jonathan Wild and his men. The street was in total darkness. They stood under the shadow of the tailor’s house, in a dense and dusky throng. In a low voice, Jonathan, without telling them his object, gave his men instructions where to place them- selves, and how to act when they heard him blow his whistle shrilly. oe One by one they departed, and took up their different stationa, leaving Jonathan Wild and Pinching Tom alone. The latter, in obedience to his instructions, had pro- yided himself with a lantern and spade. He had also in case any necessity should arise for their use. ‘Pied Bull” not excepted. * How shall we make an entrance, Mr. Wild?” asked Pinching Tom. “I took a good look at the premises yesterday. The lower windows and the door are boarded over.” ‘‘ We cau got over that difficulty.” ‘As how, Mr. Wild?” The boards will be easily removed.” ‘But there is a court which takes you to the back of the premises, which, I should think, would not be so well guarded.” ‘Tie front will be the best,” said Jonathan. ‘“* They do not anticipate any attack, and ten to one if they have taken any precautions to prevent a determined man making an entrance. Have you a jemmy ?” ‘Yes, Mr. Wild. Here’s one, if you please, sir. Thinking it might be wauted, I slipped it into my pocket.” Wild took the crowbar, and having made a hasty exami- nation of the windows, set to work upon one of them. A slight cracking noise now broke the silence, but only for a moment. Jonathan had one of the boards off. The lantern, Tom,” he said, ‘* quick.”’ Pinching ‘om unmasked a dark lantern, which enabled Wild to see that, if he removed another board, he would have no difficulty in making an entrance, for the glass m the windows beyond had disappeared, and he could see quite into the room. The other board was, like its companion, quickly torn from its position. All was now ready for them to enter, but before he did so Jonathan whistled faintly. It was a signal, and was obeyed by a man gliding out of the shadow of the buildings, and coniing to his side. ‘We are going to enter here,” said Jonathan, to the new comer. ‘‘ You remain here on guard. If anything unusual should happen you know how te summon nie.” ~ § Albiight, Mr. Wild.” Jonathau and his satellite now scrambled through the window, into the front room of the empty house. * Put up the boards in the same places,” said Wild, as soon as they were inside, “ but do it so that they can be pulled down in a inoment.”’ Pinching Tom was a brave enough man, but he could not eontrel self fairly beneath the roof of the house of which he haa such ghastly and horrible suspicions. Tle was ashamed, though, td hang back. Wild took the lantern, and unmasked it a little way, so en te ee an wmaareews ~~, “DS BEVESRHIN: eae SEP PSEC a well-known author, whose untimely end ail lovers of lite- | that, although it afforded them sufficient light to enable g i i to | All the houses in the street were in total darkness, the | > a ae ee A ROMANCE, SS ee them to see their route, yet enough light did not escape make any one aware that persons were in the house. The room was quite destitute of furniture. Uvon reachiny the door they found it locked. That, however, was a matter of little moment. Pinching Tom was wont to boast that no lock could be made that he was unable to unpick, and as the lock on this door was only one of a very ordinary kind, he had the bolt back as easily and as quickly as if he had possessed the proper key. On passing through this door they emerged into a little ball or passage, from which a flight of stairs ascended. Wild looked all about him with great care, for havin closed the door of the front room again, he was not afrai of the rays of light from his lantern being seen. But there was nothing to excite suspicion, nor were there any indications of any one having lately visited. Jonathan looked vexed. The hypothesis which he had formed had this empty house for its basis. He reflected a moment or so, and then he said— ** Where are the cellar steps, Tom? ”’ ‘Not far from this ’ere staircase, I should say, Mr. wid ; yes, here you are, sir—a little door in the wood- work! ‘Open it, then, and see where it leads to.” ‘Its fastened, Mr. Wild, but I daresay I shall soou get it undone.” Tom applied his crowbar to the crevice of the door. It resisted for some time, having evidently been securely added, on his own responsibility, a mattock and crowbar, | fastened from within. Jonathan breathed again. Move pressure was applied to the crowbar, but Wild grew impatient, so he seized the edge of the door with his fingers, and, putting forth all his strength, fairly dragged it down. The opening disclosed a flight of stesp brick steps, upon which the dust lay in incredible quantities. Pinching Tom, at the sight of this dismal and grave- like looking place, tairly drew back. It did not appear that Jonathan observed this move- ment, or, if he did, did not attribute it to its right cause, for, taking no notice of it, he began to descend the steps. Seeing his leader go first gave Tom a little more courage ; besides which, he did not dare for the life of him hold back. His master—for such in every sense of the word he was—was treating him with great conside- ration, and visions of being appointed lieutenant in Blue- skin’s place flitted through his brain. The cellar steps were only twelve in number, so the bottom was soon reached. The cellar was on the right hand. Jonathan entered it eagerly. He felt a more than common interest in the affair, and he was consequently exceedingly anxious to know whether it would terminate according to his expectations. The cellar, which was clearly under the front part of the house, was an ordinary vaulted chamber, quite empty, and bearing every appearance of having been so for some time. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all covered thickly with dust, while spiders had spun their webs in every direction. Wild was foiled. There was nothing at all there. Still, the information he had received had prepared him for quite a different result, and he was far from thinking now that it was incorrect. He wnust have had some doubts about it, however, or he would not have taken so much trouble to assure him- self that there was no mistake. ‘There don’t seem to be nothing here, Mr. Wild,” said Pinching Tom, as Jonathan finished a minute investiga- tion of the cellar. ‘Not what we want,” growled the thief-taker; “ but I haven’t done yet.” Ags he poke, he left the cellar, and then proceeded ic an apprehensive shudder when he found him- | exsmine the walls at the foot of the stairs. Ha!” he gaid. ‘This explains it. Look at this brickwork, Tom. Don’t it seem to you to be newer than that. Besides, here is a kind of arch at the top, just hke tlie entrance to the other cellar.” Pre _—~ageK TT ~ “eS” » wwe (SO) an MICOOOKS.CO©