Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

enn nen AT IE IOLA, CON COO __eemamee BLUESKIN;: A ROMANCE, 269 Ce ae eee, What ?”’ ; ‘¢To remain ontside this door as a sentinel, in order to aee that ne one enters this chamber who is not privileged to do so, and to see that you do not escape.” * Ts it possible P”’ ‘‘Tt sounds impossible, does it not? but we are all in the hands of fate. Jonathan has made offers and pro- mises to me that would be enough to shake any man, provided I might be faithful to him; but the questixs is, would he be true to me?” CHAPTER CLXXXVII. EDGWORTH BESS WINS STEGGS OVER TO HER INTERESTS. STEGGS folded his arms together and bit his nails, as he propounded this important question. Edgworth Bess raised her head, and looked him keenly in the face. A vague idea of danger crossed her brain. **He has not shook you?” she said, interrogatively, though her heart told her that he had. ‘ You know him too well to believe in his sincerity. Jonathan Wild never yet kept faith with any human being, and never will.” ‘He did shake me,” said Steggs. ‘But I am firm again now. I will be your faithful friend for ever.” ‘‘T hopeso. You will find it more to your advantage in every way, for I shall never play you false. Has Jona- than offered you money to join him in his plans? If so, you shall have just double what he has promised, if you take my part and assist me in recovering my rights, for there is no witness so important as yourself.” *<T confess, with shame, that I listened to his words, and that which he said made a deep impression on me; but that 1s over now—believe me, it is over, and I shall be faithful to you. I feel that I can trust you, and Jonathan has already shown too much treachery for me to believe in the sincerity of his promises.” ‘*T am glad that you take that view of the case. He would not be faithful to his word. He has great schemes on hand—I know that well, and I have no doubt he would be able to carry them out more easily if he had an instru- ment which he could use; but rest assured, that, when the work was finished, and there was nothing more for it to do, it would be cast aside.” “That is it—that isit. But I will be even with him. I will fall in with his schemes. I will profess to help him, andso I will. I will assist him to reach the highest pinnacle to which he has aspired, and then when I have done that, when he feels that he has triumphed, I will cast him down from the giddy eminence, and so great will be his fall, that he will never rise again.” There was a wild excitement about Steggs as he thus spoke, and he uttered the words, which came easily to his lips, with a dramatic force which many an actor would have tried in vain to imitate. ‘** Dismiss that thought,’ said Bess. ‘* Leave him to himself. The plan you propose 1s too dangerous—by far too dangerous, when you consider the nature of the man with whom you have to deal. Dismiss the thought, and devote yourself wholly to my interests. Beheve me, that will prove your best plan of action, and the one that will bring you the greater profit.”’ ** No, no, I have set my heart upon the scheme. Blue- skin knows and has approved of it, and so would Jack if it was communicated to him. Iam hereto carry it eut, and I will do it, or perish in the attempt. Ishall not, how- ever, neglect you. Onthe contrary, you shall be sheltered from all personal violence at his hands, and, if possible, be set at liberty. Iwas a fool to listen to what he said, but it was the money which blinded my judgment. But that is quite past. It will never occur again, and my original resolution shall be carried out.” Trnly was Steggs an enemy much to be dreaded, and so the reader will find as the narrative proceeds. Edgworth Bess shrunk back, terrified at the vehemence of his manner. He saw the action, and controlled himself, He spoke, after a moment’s silence, in a much calmer and more rational tone of voice. ‘Listen to me. While you are here yon are, perhaps, as safe as you could be anywhere, especially in your feeble state of health. You must forget that you are in a prison, and feel assured that while I remain @ sentinel —)~ Sie ea yess o_ at your door, no harm can possibly come to you: neit at the hands of Wild himself, nor at the had: of any othig janizaries. I shall be all the time close + hand to protect ou. “Accept my thanke. They are all that I am able to offer you now, but I hope the time will soon be at hand when [ shall be able to recognise your services in a more substantial manner.” _ “Enough. Iam a poor man—a very poor man; and it is the want of money which has driven me to do that which I have done. But it is over.” ** You shall have wealth, if that is what you crave. Oh! how I long to hear that Jack has escaped! If he has done so, then I should wish to be with him; and, if nothing better could be done, I would leave England with him, aud in some other country live content, foregoing all my wealth.” ** Don’t speak of that.” “Why not?” “‘T should be loath indeed to afford Jonathan Wild so great a triumph asthat. Stay here, as I proposed.” ** The place is hateful to me.” **Nodonbt—no doubt. But, then, you should consider your, weak state. You would be unequal to much exer- on. **T am very ill.” “You are. I wonder you are still’in life. And now listen to me. With respect to yourself, Jonathan’s plans are as clear as noonday.’ “To you they may be, but they are not so to me. If you can, explain them to me.” “ Willingly, because then you will see that, for the pre- sent, you are safe; and that yon have nothing much to fear from the thief-taker, if you do not exasperate him.” ‘** Tell me, then, at once. ** You are not yet of ageP” ** 1 know it.” “What is your age? Everything depends upon that.” ** T must be nearly twenty.” “Then you have one year of safety. When you are twenty-one you will ba mistress of and responsible for your own actions. Do yonunderstand?” - ‘* Yes—yes.” “ Until then your are not your own mistress, nor would the law hola you accountable for your actions. Now, can you guess what Jonathan will do?” a) ** He will keep you here a prisoner, and take every care of you until you are of age.’ * ‘Yes—yes.” ; *‘ And then he will find some means, I do not say what, of forcing you into a marriage with him.” ** Mercy !”’ **Do you understand now ?” **T do—I do, indeed. I have heard something of this before.” “He will then be your husband ané jour master. Immediately after this he will take steps to recover your wealth and title, and when he has succeeded in tuis, he ent step forward, and, as your husband, lay claim to it all. **The monstrous villain!” ** He deserves thetitle. You cansee now his policy. But he shall be thwarted. Fear nothing. Do not be cast down. Until the time I mention, you are perfectly safe. Let me advise you, then, to keep yourself calm, and get well as soon as possible. I will watch over you, and, as early as I can, will communicate with Jack and Blueskiu, who shall decide what had best be done. Does this con- tent your” ** Tt does—but’? ——_- “But what ?” © “* Fain would I leave this place at once.” “You may well wishit, but you are safest here. While you are a prisoner, Jonathan will attempt nothing, so do not precipitate matters, or hurry him inic doing what he would not.” **T will try.” “* Above all, keep a good heart. You see, Jack Shep- yard has escaped; and now I will tell you somethiug tnore, which ought to make you happy.” ‘¢ What—what P ” ** When you are im full possession of your nghts, you will have the command of almost unbounded wealth, for ww, Lewes TUM > = (Cc COmiIcboooks (SO) 5}