Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

E | | | WW. rs The passion was a wayward one, no doubt. It could not be otherwise in such a fierce spirit, but, after his own fashion, he did love her. It was not, however, that he ever thought of her becoming his wife. He looked up to her as being some- thing as far above him as the stars, and, like them, cnly to be aclmaired at a distance. But, abovs all things, was he desirous of standing well in ber. opinion. He would gladly have gone through firs and water, or endured a thousand deaths to do her service ; and a good word from her, or a smile of approbation, he would have felt to be an ample reward. It must not be forgotten that the by far greater portion of Wild’s enmity towards him was induced by his es Spouse the cause of the poor heiress. Had he consente Wild in his iniquitous designs against her, he would have had the thief-taker on his side. But it is questionable whether the enmity of sach a ane ag Jonathan Wild was not preferable to his friend- shi Hea he im reality been guilty of the heinous crime of which he had been accused, Jack would not have felt it half so much as he did. He almost felt that he could be content to die were that stigma removed from his name. Hig ruminations were interrupted just as it was growing dusk, by the entrance of a jailor into the dungeon. ss Here’ 5A visitor for you, Jack,” he cried. ‘ Walk im, sir, if you please.” ack looked up eagerly. His first thought was that it was Blueskin who had come to pay him this visit, and he was somewhat dis- appointed when he saw standing before him an individual om he had certainly never seen before, and who his dress proclaimed to be a lawyer. ‘Your name is Sheppard, I presume,” he said, with a bow and a smile. ** Well, sir.’ “‘ T have been sent here.” ** Indeed !”’ ** Allow me to say, in facet,” added the lawyer, with a satisfied smile at his own wit. *‘ By whom have you been sent?” asked Jack, suspi- ciously, for he fancied in this he could detect some deep- laid scheme on the part of his arch-enemy. “ By whom have you been sent ?” **I will tell you, Mr. Sheppard, for the gentleman who paid me my fee had an idea that you would mistrust me, and therefore put me in possession of a kind of password, if I may so speak, by which you might know it was to our own interest to speak freely to me.’ *¢ And what is it?” “I'he name by which the gentleman is often called by those who are intimate with him, is Blueskin, on account of the colour of his face. By others he is called Mr. Joseph Blake. Neither of these, however, is his right name.” oT am aware of that,’ said Jack, ‘‘and so are fifty more.’ ““That may be, my dear sir, but don’t be so impatient. He told me this much, and then said that you were the only person now living, save one, who knew his real name. ‘“That is quite true,” replied Jack, whose suspicions began to dissipate. ‘‘ But did he tell you his real name, in order to convince me that you were really sent by him pa “* He did.” ‘*Then tell it me at once. ~ doubts I feel removed. A The name ie” —- “Say it in a whisper,” cried Jack, interrupting him. i , snow he wants it Pd I shall then have aff the ** The turnkey may be listening, and kept from all such ears. Now tell me.’ he lawyer put his mouth to Jack’s ear, ** Stephen Ticknor.” ** Enough,” said Jack. ‘Such is, indeed, his real name, as he confided it tome. Did he say that it was known to but one other person besides myself P” ** Yas.” -** f know to whom he alludes, and that person, although ne name may be familiar to him, does not identify it with ues “So much the better, then, ey dear sir, as a forme & —— > aaah ~ ty = BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, i ean a a 935 sort of additional proof that I was really sent by him, and with the intention of doing you a serwse.’ ‘It does. Tell me the particulars.” ** Certainly, if you wish it, though time is precious, and I have much to say to you.’ **Go on.’ “To be sure, This morning, then, I was visited in my chambers in Lyon’s Inn by this friend of yours, who gavo me & highly satisfactory fee, and engaged my services to erploy a counsel to defend you on your trial to-morrow.” ack shook his head. “*T am afraid at will be of little use. The case 1s too cleax against me.”’ “It does seem very 90,” replied the lawyer. ‘‘ Your friend could not give me all the particulars, so I went to Bow-street to read over the depositions.” ‘Mr. ——” said Jack, and he paused, for he did not know the name of his visitor. ** Cunningham,” suegested the lawyer, blandly. ‘‘ Mr. Jacob Cunningham Jack bowed. ** What I was about to say was this—I have an enemy.” ¢¢ Ha! ¥ **An enem » too, of no ordinary kind—an enemy above all to be drea ed.” “* That is awkward.” ‘An enemy who ia all powerful. He will appear against me, and it is notorious that, if ever he gives evidence against any one, that person 18 sure to be con- victed.” ** T can guess who you mean.” *€ Doubtless.” **'The description is uite sufficient,” eaid tho lawyer. “You mean Jonathan ild.” CHAPTER CLXIII. THE GOVERNOR OF NEWGATE AND JONATHAN WILD CON- SULT TOGETHER AS TO THE BEST MEANS OF RENDERING MR. CUNNINGHAM’S SERVICES OF NO AVAIL. ‘*T po,” said Jack. ‘* He has been, and is, my evil genius. Through him my father was brought to the scaffold, and he has sworn, over and over again, that I shall die at the han man’s hands.” have heard,” remarked the lawyer, “ that one of hia characteristics 1s, that, sooner or later, he never fails to keep his word. ‘i ** It ig 80,’ ’ responded Jack, gloomily. * But come—come,’ > said Mr. Gunnin ham, ‘‘ this won’t do; it isn’t business. Never mind Jonathan Wild just - present. We will decide what to do with him by and ye. ** You might spare yourself the trouble.” ** Pho—pho—not all. I have been paid well, and I shall try my best to earn it. There is this about it, too : it would be avery glorious thing to overthrow J onathan Wild—a very glorious thing indeed.” ** No doubt. **Then let us do our best. If we don’t make an effort we are sure not to do it.” ** But the case is so clear.” ** Never mind that.” ** And there are so many serious counts in the mdict. ment, that it would be impossible for me to be acquitted on all of them.” ‘* Stay—stay. Don’ t take things for granted quite so much, Listen to me.” “What ist P”’ ** Tell me, if you can, what counts there will be. Take a momont to reflect, and then tell me calmly.” Jack did so. Te first,” he said, “‘ will no doubt be for committing & robbery | at the residence of a Mr. Hadley. ‘* Hum,” said the lawyer, as he made a phot of the cir- eumstance in a note-book which he produced; “andam I to Cees that there is sufficient ground to support that count.” ‘““ Tf you mean,” said J ack, bluntly, “did I commit the burglary, I answer, yes.” rs oars ! a burglary was itP” “You said a robbery before.” * Did IP” “Yes; and they are two rather different things, you EO NOOKS (SO) 5}