Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

——_ = - SPRING-HEEL D JACK: ““ It was a lie !—a lie!” “I believe it to be true,” said Jack, coldly and calmly. “You are a villain to assert such a thing!” said Richard, his tones trembling as he spoke. ** Leave my house; I will not be insulted in my own place by peer or peasant. Begone! or I will have you hurled forth like a dog.” Again he seized the bell-pull. - “Summon your servants here,” said Jack, “and I will expose the cheat and robber to them.” Clavering dropped the bell-pull from his hand on the instant. He had not the courage to stand that accu- sation before his own hirelings. “Why do you hesitate?” asked Jack, coldly and pointedly. The young man made no reply. The muscles of his mouth worked nervously, and, spite of all his endeavours, he could not assume a calm demeanour. Jack repeated his question in a sneering, con- temptuous tone. ““T do not wish you to commit yourself,” he stammered. “Ho! ho !” laughed Jack ; “ that’s good, very good. But I will pull the cord myself, and”’ He had moved forward as he spoke, but ere he could reach the fireplace Richard sprang before im. “What would you do ?” he asked tremblingly. ‘* Expose a rascal without one spark of honour or truth to his own servants.” ‘¢ Are you mad ?” Jack took no notice of the words, but con- tinued— “Denounce the man who by means of loaded dice robs those he calls his friends; hold up to the scorn of every honest man the thing that can heap insult upon injury, as he has done tiere.” Jack pointed to the now recovering Jessie. A shade of sadness was on his brow, a feeling of sorrow in his heart, for that poor shattered girl, who lay so pale on the silken couch before him. **No, no,” cried Clavering ; “you must not. It was all a lie of hers—all a lie. We have quarrelled—she is jealous of me, and a jealous woman will say things she knows are not true. It’s all false, I tell you—all false, so help ’—— “Hold!” cried Jack; ‘‘add not perjury to your other vices.” “Tt is all false, I tell you—all, all false.” “Tt is true,” said Jessie, rising from the couch and staggering towards him. “* You lie, you”’ ‘Shame !” cried Jack. Shame—shame !” The libertine drew back abashed before the indignant look which accompanied the words. Weakened by the emotion which lacerated her bosom, the poor ill-used, ill-loved girl tottered towards a chair. Jack gallantly sprang forward and held out his land to assist her. Jessie recoiled. 3 “No, no,’ she said. ‘“ From what I have “This to a2 woman! heard as I lay there on that couch I am aware |. that you know me as Iam, that you have learned I am not the wife of that man, as you and others THE TERROR OF LONDON. 45 have hitherto been led to believe I was. You shall not be polluted by the touch of —of—a’’—— “Madam,” said Jack sorrowfully, “if you are not what until to-night I believed you to be, you are still a woman, and as such must commaud my respect.” He took her trembling hand in his own, and led her gently to a chair. There was a look of gratitude in her eyes as she drew her slender fingers out of the palm of his hand. ‘“ Would his heart were like yours,” she said ; “would it was—would it was !” “Indeed I pity you,” said Jack ; “for it pains me to know that your feelings have been abused by one whom till late I looked upon as a friend and an honourable man. But he shall do you justice yet. Where are those dice 2” ‘In my keeping.” ‘* Place them in mine,” said Jack. ‘She dare not ; I would” “Silence!” cried Jack, imperiously. ‘If you dare by word or deed to offer her violence, I will stretch you at my feet and spurn you as I would a worthless cur.” “You shall answer for this language to me,” exclaimed Clavering hoarsely and trembling with passion. ‘TY will do so, but it shall be with a horse- whip,” said Jack. ‘“‘ Gentlemen do not stoop to shoot or thrust at cheats and robbers, but whip or duck them as best suits their fancies.” There was a fearful look in Clavering’s eyes now, but he uttered not a word. He bit his lips till the blood streamed down over his chin, and gnashed his teeth like an en- raged tiger. Jack paid no heed to his fury, but turning to Jessie he said— “In the sight of God you are that man’s wife, and you may be so in the sight of man if you will but place those dice in my hands.” ‘*Could I but remove the foul stigma from my name, [’”—— ‘You can,” he added. ‘* Place those dice in myhands. If Richard Clavering acts like aman and makes you his wife within a month, they shall: be given to him and none know of their existence but ourselves; if not, I expose him as a cheat, liar, and robber, and produce them to the world as evidences of his guilt.” Placing her hand in her bosom, she drew forth the loaded dice and gave them to Jack, who quickly transferred them to his pocket. As he did so, Clavering flung open a small ornamental box on a side table, and snatching a pistol from it levelled it at his head. Jessie screamed. Richard fired, and the room was filled with smoke. As it rose upwards to the ceiling the libertine saw the girl lying on the floor, but no trace of Jack was visible. CHAPTER XVIII. JACK IN THE GARDEN—THE HOUSEMAID AND HER LOVER—THE COMMISSION—THE LEAP OVER THE COACH, JAcK had seen the.danger just in the nick of time. He had turned as the libertine levelled books (EO) AMIE _--— (E()