Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 40: what you’re looking at

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eRe a Sear IER “Da oe sree 38 ae ne NN ES Quilt Arnold let go his hold, and staggered two or three paces, as he thought, in the direction of the door. But before he could tell whether ae had taken the right direction, he felt his legs give way beneath him. and he, too, lapsed into utter inseneibility. No sooner did Wild see his officer, than he compre- hended at once all that it has taken us some time to relate. Take it for alf in all, it was just one of those things which would elicit his utmost wrath. The humanizing effect of the scene of horrors he bad passed through was entirely dissipated. He lost sicht of everythiug but rage at this disobeyal of his orders, “Curse you!” le said, and he dealt the unfortunate officer a couple of fearful kicks in the ribs. ‘So that’s the wav you treat me,isit? Get up with sou, or curse you, Pi Ab!” A sudden thought struck Wild. He would punish Quilt Arnold in a manner he would never forget. lfe would Jeave him in the vault to come to lis senses and get out as best he inight. Wild was quite himself again. He chuckled gleefully. ‘“Yes—yes, Mr. Quilt. up and finding yourself in the dark along with tbe dead. It will shake vour nerves a little for vou. Ila! ha!” Wild’s laugh always had a disagreeable sound, but it was more than usually apparent in that place consecrated to the remains of those who were no more. This eye again fell upon the tiara, for the gems sent out numerous seintillations of hght. He had dropped 1 conseious of some feeling of remorse. But now so complete and sudden a reversal of his fechngs had takeu place, that, cursing himself for a fool for having dropped it, he took it up again and, notwith- stuuding the loathsome state it was in, stuffed it into his eoat-pocket. This done he strode towards the door, aud passin through elosed it carefully after him. Had there beena fastening to it he would have fastened it also. His great object now seemed to be to get out of the church with as much eelerity as possible. The stone he left just as it was. “There is a little surprise in store for some one,” he said. “7 wonder who it will be.” He pulled the chureh door to after him. But, however eare!ess he might be about leaving traees to show that the church had been broken into, he was especially careful not to ideutify himself in any of them. For (his reason he stood in the porch and looked warily We'll see how you like waking ~ before he ventured to emerge into the grare- yard. He listened too to hear if anyone was stirring. But at that hour everybody in the village with the exception of himself was fast asleep. Finding all quiet he passed down the smooth gravelled walk and throngh the little gate mto the road, along which he walked hastily uutil he reached the meadow where by his orders the horses had been placed. He led ont his own and mounted him, and, turning his head in the direction of London, set forward ata sharp trot. All the way he went the thought of what a shock it would give Quilt to come to his senses and find himself alone in a vault amused Lim vastly. ‘“Tlal ha! I fancy I see him now—poor Quilt! If he cets out of that all mght, and don’t go mad, or anything of that sort, I rather think he will feel more inclined to obev my orders, and not go prying where he isn’t wanted. Ha! ha! It’s a capital joke. Ha! ha!” Wild was never so facetious before. But then think of the good day he had had. And what was best of all, be had in addition the hhamond tiara in his pocket, for returning whieh he a cxpected to extort a sum very far indeed above its value. I shall tell Blueskin of it. CHAPTER XXXVI. JONATHAN WILD PAYS A VISIT TO HIS PRISONERS. it was hard upon daybreak when Wild drew np in front af his owu housa in Newsate-street, oe — ee oe h p | — BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, He was evidently expected by some one, for ag soon as the horse stopped the door opened. One of lis men was on duty named Levee, and, going ont, led his master’s horse round to the stable. Jonathan went straight up stairs. He was weary. _ Entering a room in which the different objects were just visible, he threw himself upon the bed, and was soon mn a deep, sound sleep. It was, however, disturbed by fantastic linages, the result of v-h-t bo had gone through during the mgbt. About ten o'clock he awoke, and, according to custom, took up his station in his office. He did a good bit of business, but as it was simply in the trade, it is not worth while to trouble the reader with it. The day was closing in when Mr. Wild left his office. It was his eustom always to stick to business. He had half expected to have a visit from Lord Juges- trie, but the day passed quite away, and he did not make his appearance. Then, as we have said, he got off his stool and directed his steps towards the upper portion of his house. But when he had mounted a few stairs, he paused sud- denly as a thought crossed his mind. He placed his hands behind him, and pursued it. Then, having come to a determination upon the sub- ject, he slowly walked down stairs again. He turned at the bottom, and made his way towards the cells. The man who was stationed at the grating swung it opeu to allow him to pass through. ‘“Has Quilt como back yet?” asked Jonathan, in a surly voice. “No, Mr. Wild, if you please sir, he has not.” **Ya-—ah! Shutup. Where’s Bluer”’ ers seen nothink of him since late last night, Mr. i re Wild strode along the subterraneous passage from which the cell doors opened. ‘*I suppose that Blue and that young Sheppard lave gone to Hadley’s crib at Kilburn? What’s amiss, I wonder, that they don’t come baek ? It will be awkward if he steals the paper, and it is found upon him. When once is existence 1s suspeeted, tarewell to that scheme. And yet I think I can trust to Blue. He’s my right hand, and no mistake.” By the time he had done muttering these sentences the end of the corridor, if so it might be ealled, was reached. The blank wall apparently was before him. But only apparently. Jonathan stooped down and pressed steadily on the cone of one of the stones with which the passage wac aved. A. shght grating noise suceeeded, and a seeret door iu the stone wall swung open. Wild passed quickly through the »pening and then closed the door again. On the side, however, upon which he now was there was no attempt at concealment. The door could be plainly enough seen. Wild was now in a corridor very similar, so far as general appearance went, to the other one. Before one of the cell doors, of which there were several, he paused. It was the last but one from the end of the passage. The locks all through Jonathan’s house were constructed after one model, which enabled hin, by carrying a master- key, to open any door he pleased. This key he produced, and fitted into the loek before im. It was attached to his neck by a steel chain, Having unlocked the door, he next proceeded to with. draw the bolts, of which there were two, one at the top and one at tae bottom. Then, lifting up his foot, he kicked the door violently open. So soon as this was dono, he heard a great rustling as of straw from the interior. Mingled with it was the clanking of a chain. Then he heard a voice. “ Villain! awey—away!” \t said, in horrible screaming accents. ‘‘Itis in vain you come tothreaten. Do row a OR OIE EST EE LR UTELTEEIES = é ry | COMmiIcoooe (C SH o(GO) 5}