Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

FT Seanad a rn nape ere es PP SSS SS PSS <P A SR ee . ow A a a “Tt is, Jack—it is. Only say the word, and there yeu | are. It was 2 most fortunate thing for you that you came in here to-night!” T hope it will be so, was the reply. Who is this peeson who will give me employment, and the raeans to Vive like a gentleman for the rest of my days?” - Tl] warrent you'll know the name well when I men- tion it,’ said Blueskin, with a smile. “Who is it 2”? asked Jack, impatiently. Jonathan Wild!” * Jonathan Wild ? ”’ “Yes! Jonathan Wild! the name!” “ But,” said Jack, “ what does he want with me?” I told you you would know ‘ Ah, now you’re askin what perhaps I ought not to) tell you; but if you'll give me your word you'll not split, lll trust you!” ‘You have it, then.” “ Jonathan Wild—Jonathan Wild the Great! as he 1s generally and justly called—and he is a great man, I ean assure you, lives in the house next door to Newgate.” “ T know that.” “ Very well. Now I am his heutenant ** His what ? ” “ Lieutenant—deputy—or whatever you like to eall it. I am second in command.” “To Jonathan Wild ?” “Yes! And I am quite sure he would be overjoyed if you would join his band! It is the best thing you can do. Society has set its face against you, and as you are the weakest you will go ta the wall unless you choose to take up arms and defend yourself.” This speech was rather incomprehensible to Jack. * But what am I to do?” }»? ‘Oh, Jonathan will soon put you up to all that. Do you consent to do as I advise?” “T do! As well that as anything !”’ ‘ As well that? And better too, I should think. All you've got to do is to act on the square, and keep friends with Jouathan, and you’re all nght. But I must tell you lis temper is not the most amiable in the world, and his (riendship very difficult to retain.” ¢¢ Oh ' 3 “ flowever, the fact of the case is simply this: my gaffer, Jonathan Wild, is a kind of inter—what do you call it— cessor P—Yes !—he is a kind of intercessor between the robber and the robbed !”’ ‘“* 1 don’t understand.” * Oh, but you will do before long, and Iam not a very neat hand at explaining anything.” Jack placed his arm upon the table, and let his head stnk upon it. “Hullo!” said Blueskin. “ What’sup! Come Jack, my lad, don’t give way to your feelins in that way! Have another glass, and let’s have a manly heart, and no whining! Cheer up, I say, for I can tell you your fortune’s made!” But Jack’s heart was heavy. Blueskin patted him encouragingly upon the back. ‘You won't deceive me! Lor’ bless you, I can see it’s in you. I know well enough what you're going to ve! Nature has formed you for it, and the world has deter- mined you shall do nothing else! Your’s will be a dashing career, I tell you!” Jack looked up. The tears were in his eyes. But they were not the indications of a genuine gricf. The unusua: quantity of spirit which he had imbibed, and to the use of which he was an utter stranger, had affected his brain, and superinduced that species of intoxi- cation called maudlin. “There, that’s right! Don’t be agirl, Jack! There was nothing of the woman in your father’s disposition. Oh! no—quite he reverse! I tell you whatit is,Jack! Iam sure of it! Before you area month older you will bea more notorious and expert cracksman than your father was! “My father?” “Yes, my old pal; you know! A short life and a merry one! Plenty of excitement! Plenty of adven- ture! Plenty of money! What more can you require ?” Jack shuddered. “eruyece \ ‘ But, tell me. | BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. oe oS en “My father!” he said, ‘f you speak of him! Would I were not his son, and then I should have been spared all that I have suffered in consequence!” “Oh! that be hanged,” said Blueskin, ““y_. seeut to be proud! And you will, too, when yon know 2 litle more. Let us drop it, and join the company. They are surprised at our long talk! Come, rouseup! Remember eM, ene tae SD ‘you have promised to become a member of Jonathan Wild’s band!” CO CHAPTER VII. RETURNS TO JONATHAN WILD, LORD INGESTRIE, AND THE DIAMOND NECKLACE, “Wat did you say, Mr. Wild?” That was the question to which Lord Ingestrie gave utterance when he heard Jonathan murmur some words whose meaning he could not catch. “Nothing. That 1s, nothing of any importance!” Jonathan had to twitch his wig to regain his compo- | sure. “Tt is really an extraordinary and audacious affair, your lordship—very audacious indeed! Last night did you say it oecurred P ”’ ‘Yes, Mr. Wild. Or perhaps it would be more correct to say this morning, for, though her ladyship cannot say precisely when she missed the necklace, yet she fancies 1t must have been after she left the countess’s saloons.”’ ** Perhaps,’ said Jonathan, with a leer, “it may not have been stolen, but only lost? String broken—come unfastened, or something of that sort, eh? Have you offered any reward ?”’ ** Not publicly, Mr. Wild, not publicly.” Jonathan rubbed his hands slowly one over the other, and looked attentively at his visitor. “We were at first of your opinion, Mr. Wild,” con- tinned his lordship, “‘and thought—nay, made sure that it had been lost only; but though every inquiry and instant search was made, no traces of it could be found!” *“ How unfortunate.” “The news of the loss soon spread among the servants, and I am sure the reward that was offered would have induced whoever had found it to give it up.” Jonathau shut one eye. He feigned to be quite overcome by his lordship’s extreme cleverness. “Dear me,” be said, “if your were a professional man I should be quite jealous of you! There is nothing like taking prompt stepsin a matter of that sort.” “T think not,’ said his lordship, with a little more pomposity in the tones of his voice than there was a minute before. ‘* You see, as I said, not only 1s the neck- lace intrinsically very valuable, but an heir-loom that has been in the possession of the Ingestrie family to generations.” “Ah!” said Wild. “‘ How much did you offer the servants if they found it ? ” “A bundred guineas ! ” Jonathan laughed in his usual disagreeable fashion. “ What’s that P ” *“T laughed, my lord.” “Why? <At what?” “The idea of thinking a hundred pounds was a large reward for such an object.” “It is a large amount.” “To a beggar, probably!” ‘ However,’ said his lordship, rather angrily, * J am quite certain it was stolen—not lost, and that none of the countess’s servants had 1t.”’ “ Oh, indeed! Well, it is just possible you are right.”’ Jonathan glanced at his hat lving on the desk, and be- neath which so snugly reposed Lady Ingestrie’s diamond necklace. Little did his lordship dream that the identical thing which he was in search of was just under his nose. But so 1t was. ‘“T was advised to come to you, 11. Wild,” resumed | Lord Ingestrie, ‘‘ for I had deen told you had frequently succeeded in obtaining things which had been stolen.” “Or lost,” said Jonathan, with a hideous grin, ‘‘ your lordship’s informaticn is quite correct.” “T thought the less time that was lost tho better it » yond he. so I came bere at once.” ee “ee gre ee me BREE eee ee eer re — Se ore EY eT ES eee ED ge nen on Oe PR eg ST OE, COMmiIcoooe CC SS} o(CO) 5}