Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 170: what you’re looking at

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contents. ‘Then hand the cup to me, and I will give you ny good wishes, and drain the goblet to the dregs!” “Tt is a strange request.” Why so?” *“ Tt seems so.” “J will not press it on you if it be against your inclina- tion, but if you will do as I wish you, you will make me very happy.” hen the wine was mentioned, Edgworth Bess thought of the locked door and the colonel’s intamous proposal, and she dreaded some villainy ; but when she saw he did _ not press it on her, and that he would drink from the same glass, she discarded her suspicions as unworthy and unfounded. “TI shall be only too glad,” she said, “to do anything in my power to make you happy.”’ A flash seemed to come from the colone)’s eyes, but it went again almost quicker than it appeared, and he was cool 4.1 eolleeted as before. He \.....0 toa side table, on which were some dried fruits, and several decanters containing wine and spirits. One of these he took. By its colour it seemed to be sherry. Then, from the same place, he took a silver goblet that would, perhaps, hold nearly three-quarters of a pint. This he placed ona silver salver, and brought it to the table in the centre of the room. Edgworth Bess watched him narrowly. There might be no harm or treachery intended ; still, # would be best to be prepared. The colonel placed the decanter, and the salver with the cup upon it, side by side. ‘“T am sorry to detain you, but it will not last long. There is one portion of the eustom of which | have not yet spoken.” “What is that, then?” asked Bess, all her doubts springing up with fresh force. “Tt is very simple, and need not, that I know of, be adhered to. That you shall please yourself about. It is that you should pour the wine from the decanter into the goblet, and that I should hand you the salver.”’ BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. LE CO ay ERIE, PUTO There was no need for it. A strange shudder swept over Edgworth Bess. She tried to speak. She tried to move. But she failed in both these attempts. Despite herself, her eyes closed, her limbs gave way beneath her, and she would have sunk to the ground had it not been that the colonel sprang forward, and caught her in his arnis. Fervently he pressed her to his breast, and rained kisses upon her lips, cheeks, eyes, and forehead. But mastering himself by a great effort, he laid her on a couch. Then, going to the wall, he pressed upon a knob, which rang a bell. It was instantly obeyed by some one tapping at the door. It was the man whi had first come out to receive him when he arrived, and whom he addressed by the name of Fennell. There was a strange mixture of familiarity and deference in this man’s manner. ‘* Ts the carriage ready ?” ‘Waiting, sir.” “ Good! be ready to start at a moment’s notice. Mrs. Lovat.” Fennell disappeared. Colonel Thorne waited impatiently until she came. An anxious troubled look was on his face, from which it might be inferred that he had other matters pressing heavily upon his mind than any connected with the poor girl, of whom he had taken so dastardly an advantage. But the time has not yet arrived, though it is very close at hand, for us to make full disclosures respecting this extraordinary individual. At length Mrs. Lovat knocked upon the panel of the door, and received permission to enter. ‘All is well,” said the Colonel. ready.” “It is here,’ said Mrs. Lovat, holding up a very large Send “ Tlave the cloak Again were her doubts and fears dispelled, and this} military cloak, which she had carried over her arm. time she felt angry with herself for having indulged in them. Alas! poor mexperienced heart, she did not know that this was all the result of careful caleulation, and done in order to throw her completely off her guard. “ Willingly,” she said, and she took out the massive stopper from the mouth of the decanter, and hifting it up, poured some ot the contents into the cup. She was satisfied all was well. Could she but have seen the colonel’s face at that moment, how suddenly she would have altered her opinion. It was contorted by a demoniae mocking smile, such as one might imagine to appear upon the countenance of the ae upon seeing a human soul about to fall into his hands. The decanter had a very slender neck, and it took some little time to fill the cup. At length the amber-coloured fluid reached the brim. Its surface was diversified with a few erystalline beads. : Colonel Thorne took the salver, and held the goblet to er. * Drink,” be said. will do you good.” Edgworth Bess took the proffered draught. She murmured a few words, the import of which the colonel did not care to catch. Then she raised the goblet to her lips, and drank a small portion of the contents. ‘Then she handed it back. ‘The colonel held it in his right hand. “T ought, first of all,” he said, “to thank you for your ready compliance with my strange whim. I doso. And then I have before me the far more pleasing task of wish- ing you every possible happiness which this world can afford. May you”’ “It is the real Amontillado, and CHAPTER CXVI. EDGWORTH BESS IS THREATENED WITH WORSE DANGER FROM COLONEL THORNE THAN WITH THE MOHAWKS., THE Colonel abruptly ceased, and placed the goblet of wine untasted on the table. Nhe hypocritic wish he was about to utter was arrested on his )ips. “That is well.” ** Are you sure that she is all right ?” “Oh! yes! Had she drank only half as much as she did, it would have been sufficient for my purpose.” “Do you start now, sir ?”’ ‘Yes, at once. But it is late, is it not ?” ‘“* Karly, sir.” The colonel consulted his watch. *Half-past three,’ he said. ‘‘ Never mind, it will he some hours yet to day-break. You place the cloak.” Yolonel Thorne went to the couch upon which he had laid poor Edgworth Bess, and raised her im his arms. She was still msensible. Tn his hands she was no weight. Then, while he held her, Mrs. Lovat carefully wrapped the cloak about her form. It enveloped her completely. The colonel himself assisted in folding it round her, leaving only her face uncovered, in order that respiration might not be impeded. hen, when this had heen done, he took her up in his arms as though she had been a child, and carried her out of the apartment, Mrs. Lovat holding the door open while he did so. Across a corridor, and down a spacious staircase with massive carved balusters, and having rare exotic plants placed about it, the colonel went. There was no one in the hall. Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase he paused, in order to allow Mrs. Lovat, who was following, to pass him and open the front door. This was done. A very plain, yet elegant and commodious travelling carriage was drawn close up to the kerb opposite the door. Four beautiful horses, whose worth represented as many hundreds of guineas, were harnessed to it. Upon seeing the front door open, Fennell, who was seated in the rumble behind, immediately descended and threw open the door of the carriage. There was no one in the street at that lonely hour, and the colonel descended the steps in front of his house, crossed the pavement, and entered his carriage unper- ceived by any but his own creatures.