Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 222: what you’re looking at

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

= eS a Aili o.oo eel, Ee 220 Queer 4 ene 2p With these words on his ups, he flung open the door, for was not fastened in any way, and passed through it. 4 flight of steps was just before him, and he ran down without hesitation. At the foot of it numerous doors could he seen leading in different directions. Which one to take to follow in the steps of Colonel Thorne was more than he could tell. He hoped, however, that those of his janizaries who had One round in the boat would be in time to surround the ouse, and make it impossible for him to leave it. In a systematic manner Jonathan commenced an exami- nation of the mansion. Everywhere his eye turned, objects of the greatest beauty and value met his gaze, and, accustomed as he was to grandeur when visiting his noble patrona, Jonathan could not restrain his astonishment at the beauty of every- thing which he beheld. He lost no time, however, by looking at these. He was one, who, having once set his mind upon an idea, never allowed anything foreign to tempt him from it. ' Leaving the great thief-taker to prosecute his search, which, from the size of the mansion must, of necessity, occupy some time, we will tarn our attention to Colonel Thorne and Edgworth Bess. When he had, as he thought, completed the disoom- fiture of his foes, he remained for some moments leaning over the abyss, gloating over the pain which he had caused. But he did not wait until Jonathan recovered. Just before that interesting event, feeling that his strength had in a great measure returned to him, he rose. Edgworth Bess still lay exactly in the same position upon the floor as that in which he had placed her. This would indicate that her swoon, caused by repeated and continued fnghts, still held her faculties in bondage. Captain Howlet made no effort to restore her. He knew that while she was in that state he should have less trouble with her, and he had firmly resolved not to fly without her, if he could possibly avoid it. Once more, then, taking her up in his arma, and feeling, although much fatigued, scarcely any inconvenienco from her weight, he strode across the room to the door leading to the staircase. This one, it will be recollected, was, while Edgwerth Bess was prisoner, kept securely locked, and he had to waste a few minutes fumbling in the pocket of his coat for the Key. At last he grasped it, and then, thrusting it into the lock, shot back the bolt. Ho flung the door open and passed through. He had no hght with him, but the place was too familiar to him for that to be much inconvenience. He descended the staircase slowly and cautiously. Turning to the left as soon as he reached the foot of it, he made his way along a kind of corridor, and thence through a small door into a room. ** Curses on this unlucky chance!” he cried, in tones of the utmost fury. ‘‘ Another five minutes, and I should have been safe on board my bonny bark, with the black flag floating over me. Then all would have been well.” _A small couch was in the room, aud upon this he depo- sited poor Edgworth Bess. “More than all, too, lamknown. The well-kept secret of so many years laid bare! But, never mind, I have yet some time before me, and I will employ that time as best I may to my own advautage and my foe’s undoing! I have been a dreaded outlaw on the deep! Now shall I begin a new existence on the shore. ‘his place I must for ever abandon. It grieves me to think so, but there is no help for it. To stay here longer will be impossible.” He was silent for a moment. . “Let me see,’ he said, “I will first secrete about my person, in as small a compass as I can, a portion of my wealth. I shall have time to do that, for, ten to one, if it is known how easily the house may be approached from the sea. At any rate, I will risk it, for T might as well quit hfe at once, as leave this place without wealth in my possession !”? While thus speaking, Captain Howlct had not been idle or inantive. ~ oo BLUFSKIN : A ROMANCE. In a recess in this room was a large oaken cabinet, a marvel to look at, with its quaint and intricate carving and massive bands of iron, which served at the same time to strengthen and adorn it. _This, by means of a key which he carried attached to a ribbon round his neck, the captain opened. A multitude of little drawers were disclosed. Opening one of these at random, he began, with great expedition, to transfer its contents to his pockets. It consisted of nothing but unset geme of great size and brilliancy, each one of which must have been worth a large sum of money. This was, indeed, stowing wealth into a small compass. That one drawer alone contained sufficient to have satis- fied the wants of a moderate man during a long life. But these the colonel did not think enough. He opened another drawer. The contents were the same. And so on he continued, until he had actually stuffea his pockets with brilliants. The wealth which he thus had in his possession must have been enormous, and it is difficult to imagine by what means he became possessed of such a collection. However, there they were. ‘Much more,” said the captain, ‘‘ would I gladly take away, but I cannot. I must content myself with that which I have already, and get away in safety with it. That is the next important thing to do.” As he spoke, he carefully locked the doors of the cabinet again, 60 that it did not present any signs of having heen opened. This done, he turned towards the couch upon which he had placed the imsensible and persecuted girl. You,” he gaid, ‘‘ shall be the partner of my flight. I know not how it is that I have conceived so violent and unquenchable a passion for you, nor is thisa fitting time to speculate upon it. Still insensible,’”’ he added. “ Well, perhaps it is better so, provided her insensibility docs not endure for ever.” With these last words on his lips, Captain Howlet stooped over the couch, and raised his captive in his arma. He turned towards the door. But, ere he passed through it, he cast one last look upon the different objects the room contained. ‘* Farewell, old friends,’’ he said, in a voice of affected jocularity, and as though he was addressing sentient eings, ‘farewell, all of you! Heaven knows into whose possession you may fall next, but [ must leave you. It grieves me to do so, but I cannot stay. It will vex me to see another the inhabitant of this Pies ; yet, stay—I havea thought! Yes, I will do it. shall at least pre- vent that!” The colonel again placed Edgworth Bess upon the couch, in order to carry out his suddenly-resolved-upon intention. What it was will be quickly seen. Advancing to the fireplace, he took from the mantel- shelf a tinder-box. Fi He next heaped a quantity of paper and rubbish on the oor. Then, by the aid of the above-named implement, he set fire to it. The little heap blazed up brightly instantly. Hle applied the fire to different portions of the apart- ment. The walls were wainscoated, and the wood, owing to its great age, was in a very dry and rotten state. It caught the fire as quickly as the most inflammable material would. From the position of the room, Colonel Thorne well enough knew that if the fire once got fair hold of it, it would spread with great rapidity to the remainder of the manson: and then all attempts to extinguish it would be utile. Grief and satisfaction struggled for mastery in his breast, as he stood for a minute or two contemplating tne destruction which was taking place around him. Colonel Thorne was human. He loved his home. Not a single thing was in it that did not possess some special interest to him, and so he found it was, as he said, hard indeed to leave it. No other person, however, would lay claim to them, EO DOO C SS @ (S)