Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

A ree ON SPRING-HEEL D JACK; THE TERROR OF LONDON. “ Yes, the game. What did you want there at this time of night ?”’ “‘T will tell you,” said Richard. “I have a fancy for gazing at different buildings by moon- . light, and as I had business this way, 1 thought ~ I’d stop to admire” ‘The communion plate,’ interrupted the officer.” JI dare say you are a downy one, but you don’t get over, me.” ‘Scoundrel! do you dare impute dishonesty tome?” cried Clavering, assuming an indignant tone and look. ‘‘ Do you take me for a thief, sir?’ “That’s just what I do take you for,” was the reply. “Sir, you shall suffer for this,” cried Claver- ing. ‘* You shall be taught that such conduct towards a gentleman ” “Swell mobsman, you mean,” interrupted the officer. You see that window, eh?”’ And the man pointed to the window he had been watching when Jack gave him the start. Clavering looked blank. ** What of it ?’’ he asked. “It’s been forced for some purpose—to nail the plate, I suppose,” said the policeman. “What is that to me ?” “What to you?” to WEB. ‘Well, I don’t know, but it’s a good deal to me. Here’s a window forced, and a man in the enclosed ground—and what does it mean ?” ‘** How should I know ?” “In course not; how should you know. Strange, ain't it? What have you got in your pockets ?”’ , And the officer caught hold of the tails of Clavering’s coat, as he spoke. ‘‘ Insolent rascal! would you rob me ?” * Not exactly ; I’m only taking care you don’t cs anybody else, that’s all,” was the sneering reply. | “This is beyond endurance. Am [I to sub- mit to be stopped on the public way, and thus treated ?” “IT must do my duty. Humph! can’t find nothing. But I say, where is your hat? People don't generally stroll about admiring things at night without a hat on, does they ?” ‘The wind has blown it off, and ” “There ain’t been a breath to move a leaf to- nights and if it had, why didn’t you go ‘after it » Richard did not reply. ‘It won’t do, old fellow—it won't do,” said the officer, looking very knowing. ‘I’m up to you chaps. ‘“* You’ve left it in the church.” “Oh!” cried Clavering, feeling that all hope of escape was gone. “Perhaps you'll go to the station with me quietly ?’ And the policeman twined his fingers into the cuff of Clavering’s coat, at the same time press- ing his knuckles slightly into that gentleman’s wrist, ag an intimation that it would be rather painful for him to try to escape. For some few moments Richard Clavering stood like one dumbfounded. What would be thought of him now by his friends and acquaintances ? ees Tt ante . 5 Re ~- oo Ne MEME a ee ll —" The thought was maddening. fp He felt that he had suftered enough for his at- tempt to obtain the proof of his marriage, with- out now finding himself a prisoner in the hands of the police, and the certainty of being publicly charged with sacrilege—a charge whith the pro- duction of his hat would establish beyond any doubt. Bitterly did he curse himself for seeking to rob Jessie of the position to which he had raised her —bitterly did he curse the promptings of his own black heart. | ‘‘ Come on,” said the policeman, forcing him away; ‘and if you don’t want a broken head, you'll come quietly.” | | ‘For God’s sake, man, don’t attempt to drag me toa prison. You cannot surely meditate such an act.” “Can't I, though? Come.’’ “T shall be ruined,” cried Richard—‘ irre- trievably ruined.” | ‘Lor! how people do change their tones, to be sure !” said the officer, with a leer at Richard’s face. ) ‘““My good man ’’—— “Only just now you called me a scoundrel..” “Yes, yes—I was incensed.” “And now you're collared. Come, step out, will yer.” ‘¢ But my hat.” ‘Oh, that'll be found in the morning. Don’t suppose anybody will go into the church to nail it.” ‘“¢ Are you determined to take me to the police- station?” said Richard, almost beside himself with shame and terror. | “Most decidedly,” was the reply ; and the knuckles sunk a little deeper into the libertine’s © wrist. ‘Oh !” cried Clavering, ‘f you will break my wrist—you will break my wrist.” | “That's very likely, if you don’t step out,” was the cool reply. Richard sighed despairingly, and moved on by the officer's side. Suddenly, as if struck by a sudden thought, he said, in an insinuating tone of voice— “Officer, you are ill-paid for the duties you 1 have to perform,” ‘Am I?" “Yes; when I think of the visk you run of | being badly treated by your prisoners,” remarked Richard. ‘““What are you driving at,’ said the man, quickly whipping out his staff. ‘‘ If you have any idea of trying on any of that sert of game, | vou'll find it won’t pay.” And the policeman held the staff up before Richard's face. ‘‘T have no such intention. Believe me, I never meditated such a thing ; for, of course, well Know that you are only doing your duty. You have made a very great mistake—a Very great mistake—in this case; and no doubt you will be called upon to account tor your conduct. — But still I admit, when I come to think, that you — are justified in mistaking me for a very different | Of course I can satisify any sort of person. sensible man that I had no dishonourable motives to-night, (Ele) Still I can’t blame you; I am.only micbooks:com