Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

(Fe OREO > RBI A. IE. AGL IO exe BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. your lordship. As for your watch I will make it a point of honour of getting it back for youe”’ “Thanks! You may rely upon my gratitude.” ‘No, my lord,” said Wild, as he got off his stool and held open the door to allow his illustrious visitor to de- _part. ‘* Under no circumstances will I accept of a penny for that matter. JI am quite firm about that.” Well, well! We shall see! Good day!” ; ‘ Good day, my lord. Tonks, show his lordship to the oor. Jonathan waited until he heard the front door bang, and then he ventured to give utterance to his thoughts. “So far, very good,’ he said. ‘‘ Very good, indeed. What an infernal fool he must be. Oh! but the mag- nanimous dodge is the dodge of all dodges. Ha! ha! Three thousand five hundred and fifty pounds. A capital mornings’ work indeed. Now I only want to be equally lucky with ” —— But before Jonathan could finish his sentence another visitor was announced; but before we relate who it was, and what took place at the interview, we must turn our attention to some of our characters whom we have for some time neglected. CHAPTER XXXIV. THE DIAMOND TIARA IS THE MEANS OF GETTING JONATHAN INTO TROUBLE. Not until darkness had fairly settled upon the earth would Blueskin move from the ‘“‘ Ship and Rainbow” public-house, although Jack importuned him to do so. But he turned a deaf ear to all he said, nor would he on any account suffer Jack to go away alone. In accordance with the resolution he had expressed he sought a bed-chamber, and having, after some trouble, got a promise from Jack that he would not take ad- vantage of his slumber to steal away he composed himself to sleep. Tani to tell the truth, was glad enough to follow his exainple, for lie sadly needed rest. And so at night, as we have said, they awoke refreshed, and having eaten a hearty meal departed. Had anyone been on the watch they would have seen nothing remarkable in the fact of two persons putting up all day at the inn, and going away as they came, but as it happened no one noticed either their arrival or departure. The horse was quite fresh after his day’s rest in the stable, and he carried them along at a pace few others could have equalled. Blueskin drove straight to the hvery stables at the corner of King-street, Long-acre, and alighting there, went in the di-ection of the ** Black Lion’’ on foot. Those who are acquainted with the locality will be aware that it is not more than six or eight minutes walk to the ancient inn, for the building itself is still in erist- ence, although the sign has been changed. Now it is called the “‘ Cock and Magpie.” Had Blueskin entirely consulted his own inclination he would have made his way direct to Newgatc-street, but he had promised Jack he should call at the “ Black Lion.” When they arrived the place was rather empty. It was almost too early in the evening for’their customers to arrive. The pair walked straight into the kitchen at the back of the house, and there they found Johnson very com- posedly smoking a pipe. He rose as he saw his visitors enter, and hastened to bring two chairs towards the fire for their accommoda- tion. “ How is—-——” Jack began, and he suddenly stopped. He did not know the name of the girl to whom he had been of snch essential service. But Johnson seemcd to understand perfectly well who he meant, for he said— *¢ She is all right, and looks so different that you woula hardly know her. I expect her every moment. She was here just now, but she wert out about two minutes a<9 along of the missus.” “ Lat us have somethin, to drink, Johnson, and bring a glass for yourself,’ said Blueskin. ‘* I suppose there is no news ?’ q ‘Nothing as concerns you. I’ve been rather uneasy all day, for you know you told me ‘o expect you about four o'clock this morning.” “TY know I did, but i got to Oaky. about that time, and there I have been ever since.” ‘J felt pretty sure you were safe, for J kne7 von are quite able to take care of yourseif.” Johnson soon had the brandy on the table, and all three took a tolerable quantity, Jack the least, for he was in a perfect fever to see his protegée. After waiting what appeared to him to be an endless time, though it certainly was not more than a quarter- of-an-hour, the rustling of female garments reached’ his ears, and then Mrs. Johnson entered, closely fonowed by the young girl. Jack fairly uttered a shout of astonishment and delight when he beheld her. He had already seen sufficient of her countenance to know that it was a more beautiful one than it falls to the lot of most feminine humanity to have, but he was hardly prepared to see her looking so lovely as she did. The ery he had uttered had the effect of instantly drawing the girl’s attention to him, and as soon as she saw her preserver a glad smile rose to her lips, and with a slightly heightened colour in her cheeks and sparkle in her eyes, she held out her hand to Jack. Jt was a small and beautifully-shaped hand, and such a@ one as many a titled dame would have given a trifle to possess. Under the landlady’s care she had quite recovered. Her old clothes were thrown aside, and she was at- tired in some that belonged to one of Johnson’s daughters now deceased, and which, as she was about her age and size, fitted her admirably. With an air of charming freedom, she drew up a chair close to Jack’s and sat down in it. It is In woman’s nature to feel grateful for a service rendered, and the fair shroudmaker was no exception to the rest of her sex. Her familiar manner soon put Jack at his ease, who, it must be confessed, felt at first rather bashful and con- used. Almost the first question that he found courage to ask her was her name. ‘“< T have two,” she said; “ one is Elizabeth Lyon, and the other is a nickname they gave me at Mrs. Roblet’s.” * And what is that ?”’ “ Edgworth Bess.” ‘*Edgworth Bess!” repeated Jack, “ what an extra- ordinary name. What in the world made them call you that ?’ **T can’t imagine, but that is the name I have always gone by.” ‘** And now,” said Jack, “‘ I promised to tell you what I know about you, and how I came to learn what I do know.” “You did. Tell me now, do.” “ft will. You must know, 1n the first place, that last night, having some tinie to while away, I went into a public-house in Middle-row, Holborn. ce Yes.’ ** As soon as I entered the public room my attention was immediately attracted by a man who was sitting at a table near the window. He was burly and middle-aged, with a countenance at once cunning and forbidding.” * And was that one of the men who attacked me?” ** Patience, and you shall hear. Now, when I looked at this individual I saw that, although he was dressed with great plainness, yet everything he had on was of the best material, while, lying on the table before him, was a richly-jewelled sword, from which I concluded he was something more than he appeared to be; and I was con- firmed in this supposition by seeing him presently draw from beneath his coloured waistcoat a very valuable gold watch, which he put back with an ipatient air, as though he was waiting for some one who had appointed tu meet him there, but who was behind his time. “This second supposition of mine turned out to ke quite correct, for a little while afterwards a man came 1n, and then both began to converse together in w low tone.” “Go on, go on!” se‘d Edgworth Bess, for by this name we shall in future sall ker. ‘I am impaticnt to hear the rest.” ‘“‘T tried my utmost to hear wut they sai, cul to my mortification, I could not make out a syllable. 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