Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

+ OTSA BLUESKIN : “Yes, I did, and I don’t deny it, but they didn’t succeed quite so well as they thought they would.’ “I know they didn’t. And now, Jack, de you know this man’s motive for wanting the girl carried off.’ “Yes, I do.” “Then that’s all right,” said Wild, who added imme- diately, ‘ I wish I did.” ‘* Well?” “Knowing this, Jack, you must, of course, be aware | that he has resolved to have her, and have her he will.” *€ IT don’t know about that,” said Jack, svlenly. ** Don’t you, indeed ?”’ ** I can see pretty well how it 1s.” ** Can you really P”’ ‘Yes I can.” “Then, my clever young friend, just be food enough to say how it 1s.” “Why, when Steggs and his lordship failed in ¢xeir en- terprise, they came direct to you, fancying that you would be easiest able to find out where the young girl now is.”’ “Wonderful! That is precisely it. Now, Jack, a great deal will depend upon this.” “Upon what P” “Do you know his lordship’s real motive for wishing to pet possession of this girl ?” € O 9 “* I say his real motive, not his apparent one.” ** Of course.” ‘* Now, just to try you, Jack, and more depends upon your answer than you think, tell me what you think is the real motive.” Now Jack for once made a miscaleulation. So artfully had Wild managed the whole affair that he felt sure he did know all, and, therefore, he thought there could be no harm in letting him know the extent of his information. He spoke at once, and to the point. ““He wants to carry her off, and either murder her or put her out of the way somehow, because she being his elder brother’s child is the heiress to the cstates which his lordship now unjustly holds.” Jonathan’s breath was quite taken away by this in- telligence. He dropped his pipe, and stared at Jack with wide open mouth and eyes. His behaviour was so exactly that of a recipient of a piece of unexpected and astounding news, that Jack knew instantly he had been trapped into making a, false move. “Ts this true, Jack P”? gasped Wild. “True!” iterated Sheppard, infuriated that Wild should have overreached him, “ didn’t you tell me you knew all about 1t when you did not, or else you would not ask me whether it was true P ** But, Jack, his lordship told me that his motive was entirely different. Is it really possible that what you have told me is true P” ** It is something more than possible.”’ Why—why, Jack! she—she ’—— “© What ?” “Is worth her weight in gold to anyone who can lay hold of ber. Where is she, Jack ? ” ‘And do you think, Jonathan Wild, that I would be instrumental in placing her in her rascally uncle’s power ? Never, never!” “* Mind, what you’re about, Jack. You may just as well tell me at once, and save trouble, for Iam sure to find out,” ‘* And if I tell you where she is, whose side shall you take—her’s or her uncle’s P”’ ‘Ha! ha!” “What is there to laugh at ?” “Oh! lots. Now, which side do you think I should take P” *T don’t know.” i © Her uncle’s P” wermereSe 8g ne” , to “ake part against the young girl ” A ROMANCE. ** It will, Jack * Well, go on.’ ‘You're rather saucy, Jack; however, as I like you, [ shall lock over that.” “Ob! just as you like,” said Sheppard, who felt that circumstances had placed him im a position to make free "nth Jonathan Wild. ‘‘ Don’t make me an exception to any of your rules, I beg.” ; Wild glared angrily at him. . ‘* Go on with what you’ve got to say, outif you want me 3 believe me, it will.” b) * Yes—yes. ‘You may save your breath, for I tell you once for all I'l] see you jolly well d——d first.” CHAPTER XXXVII. JACK SHEPPARD FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE IS OUT-MA- NGUVRED BY JONATHAN WILD. JONATHAN started to his feet. His face was inflamed with passion. ‘“* How dare you ?”’ he said, * PU”’— But a second thought came across the mind of the politic thief-taker, and he, by a great effort, curbed his anger, and sat down in his seat again. ‘* Jack Sheppard,” he said, “it is pretty evident you are a lad of spirit, and I like you; so I have put up with- out resenting it that which I would not have suffered from anyone else.” “Pm much obliged,” said Jack. ‘Now you are young and inexperienced, and have not seen so much of the world as I have, Jack. Now do for once take my advice.” ‘“T am listening.” “Very well, then. It’s natural enough that your sym- pathies are on the side of the heiress. My sympathies are there too.” . The idea of Jonathan Wild having sympathy for any- body was rich in the extreme, and so thought Jack, if one may judge by the smile which rose to his lips. “Ah! you may smile,” said Wild, “ but it’s a fact for all that ; but it is wrong to be carried away by your feel- ings, you ought to bring reason to bear upon the subject.” ** It won’t do, Jonathan.” ** Now, there is one very important thing I should lke you to take into consideration,” continued Wild, unheeded by Sheppard’s ejaculatory interruption; ‘“‘and that is, that possession is nine points of the law.” ““T know that well enough.” “Oh! you do? So much the better, then. Now, at the present time, Lord What is his name, Jack ?”’ "That’s just what I want to know.” “Oh! ig it? Then I am sorry to say I can’t tell you. However, as I was going to say, his lordship has posses- sion at present, and there would be a good deal of trouble in ousting him.” ‘* Perhaps.” ‘Perhaps? Iam sure of it. And then consider fur- ther, his lordship has all his life been used to the luxuries of his present mode of life, and it would be cruel in the greatest degree to deprive him of them.” cé tu ff ! 2) “Especially to put into his place one who has never been accustomed to such things, and therefore cannot feel the want of them.” . But that is not the question, Jonathan Wild.” | “ Stop a little longer, and you'll see itis. An affair of this sort ought always to be made pecuniarily advantageous to those concerned in it. Now, if you are only half as clever as I take you to be, you’ll perceive that his lordship would give more to retain his possessions than the gir! would to be put into them.” Jack Sheppard rose to his feet. “It’s no good trying it on. I told you just now that I "> Pl tell you.” | would not lift a finger to keep her from her rights, but, on “Perhaps so! But, at any rate, tho sac from whom I should get the most money.” ‘And would not the restoration of a young girl to her own be a sufficient reward without anyfhing else ? ”’ “Not a bit of it. But to be candid with you, Jack. It will be best for us to row in the same boat.’ Oh! will it?” LAP GZ CaS CAESAREA, PUERTO RE OTs MEE che contrary, I would use my whole energies .o restore her to them. As for telling you where she is, you will get no more from me, further than that she is safe, and where you will be unable to find her.” ‘ Don’t make too sure of that, viper,’’ said Wild, as he, too, sprung from his chair, “ [ll wring it from ycu before you are many hours older.” “Will youP I don’t think you will. Good night, (on avery <S iGO im =