Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

SRE, “Capa rege Cae nc a I NEY ONSITE CE ASPET ME AR A nS a a we ‘‘ What is to be done ?” “ You might go out without them recognising you, but then again you might not! It will be a little trouble, but it will be best to make sure!” What do you mean ?” ‘Just this. Do you recollect I once teok you down the cellar, and showed you a way into my house in White Hart-street P” “To be sure I do!” “Well, then, that is what I meant! Come on, you will be able to slip into the bar unperceived, and when that is done the rest will follow easily enough!” So it will.” ‘Follow me, then, quietly! Don’t seem to be in a hurry, or agitated, and ten to one if you are noticed !”’ With this the landlord, closely followed by Jack, led the way into the bar, the door of which he closed behind him. Then, lighting a candle, he preceded him down a flight | of steps. ‘The same as described in a previous chapter of this history. It is needless, having already done so, to repeat minutely all the details. It will be enough to say that he entered the secret passage aud emerged from it in safety. He did not tarry a moment, however, at Johnson's other house, but made his way to that part of Drury-laue where he had left his two companions. He found them both there waiting for him. * No luck,” he said. ‘¢ She has not been there ?” “No.” “ Where next ?”’ ‘“T promised to go back to Gilbert’s-passage, because there are so many of Jonathan’s men hanging about.” “Oh! well!” said Flood. ‘ Will you hsten to me, Jack?” “Yes.” “While you uave been gone, we have been thinking about you and your master, and we have come to the con- elusion that he is a downright bad one!” “ Curse him!” “Just so. Now, [ll tell you what we have thought.” What?” ‘That we would serve him out!” © Serve him out ?” ‘Yes; and it remains for you to say whether you'll help us.”’ “T have sworn to be revenged upon him for all the misery he has caused me!” cried Jack Sheppard, “ and, as I hive and breathe, I will keep my oath!” * Bravo!” said Flood. CHAPTER CXXXITI. JACK SHEPPARD AND HIS TWO COMPANIONS COMMIT A BURGLARY AT THE CARPENTER’S IN WYCH-STREET. “ Sppak out!” said Jack; ‘Stell me at once what you mean.” “ Very good.” ** Go on, then.” We have just considered how you might be well and fully revenged upon him.” * Bat how ?” “The street is quiet,” said Flood.” “* Nat a mouse stirring,” added Blewitt. “What then?” “ We will just crack his erib for him.”’ ‘Too dangerous.” “Yo you think so, Jack ?” *'To-night I do.” Why 2” ‘ Because, when I was in at the ‘ Black Lion’ yonder, the place was full of Jonathan’s men, who are keeping a sharp look-out for us.”’ “The deuce they are!” ‘They have no suspicion as yet, I feel contident ; but a little thing will suffice to arouse it.” ‘“ What do you say, Flood?” asked Blewitt. “Why, I say this. That! for Jonathan’s men.” lle snapped his fingers as he spoke. * But the erib?” “J say, crack it. and, | take it, that will be the best way of having revenga, ’ You will be sate, enough, Jack; | | your | BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. “You know all the ins and outs of the place, i sup- pose ?”’ said Blewitt. ** Quite well.” ** Then it will be as easy as daylight.” ** Now, Jack, you had better do it.” Jack hesitated. The proposal came upon him quite unexpectedly. Many things prompted him to accede to it. In the first place there was the deep-rooted, angry feeling he had against his former master, John Roots, a feeling which had been called into existence by that person’s ill-treatment of him. He had sworn to he revenged. Here there was an ample opportunity of gratifying it, for he well knew that his master was one of those persons who never think their money is safe without it is in their own possession. Consequently, being a man well to do, and of a frugal disposition, he had in his house a very large sum of money. His whole worldly wealth, in fact. Jack, from having been so long au inmate of the house, of course knew quite well where the box containing the treasure was kept. He knew, too, that if he took it, the ruin of John Roots would follow. And would it not be fair, he asked himself, to give him back as good as he had sent. Had he not ruined him ? Why, then, it would be only fair that Jack should pay him back in his own coin. He thought so. Besides, he could tell the men he had with him were wavering and nnsteady. A little thing would serve to turn them against him, and then how hopeless would his position be. {te did not wish it to be seen that he complied with their request for that reason, for if he had he would have lost all mastery over them. If he refused they might, perhaps, turn round quite against him. If, on the other hand, he agreed, it would most likely be the means of conciliating them. And so, with all these reflections bearing in one direction, it is not wonderful that he consented. The proximity of Wild’s myrmidons would add conside- rably to the peril of the undertaking, but Jack just then was not in the humour to care for that. His blood was heated and his brain inflamed by the brandy which had been given him by Joe Johnson. ** It shall be done,” he cried; ‘Sold Roots shall repent the past this night!” © Hurrah! Jack—I thought we should please you.” “There will be plenty of booty to repay us for our trouble,” continued Sheppard. ‘© Better still.” “Somewhere in his house there is a large chest tm which he keeps his mouey.”’ “ How much ?” ** All he is worth, for he will never trust it in a bank. All the money he reeeives, all the money he has saved, he keeps in this box.” “You don’t say so?” “ He is a caretnl man, if you know what that means ?’” What!” “A miser!” ‘1 thought as much; but, Jack, do you veally mean to say that there is so much in this old enb worth the looking after ? ”’ “There is. But it won’t do to stand talking here about Let us get to action.” * Bravo, Jack !”’ ‘* Here is the house.” They paused hefore the carpenter's dwelling as they spoke. All three looked up at it. None of the inmates were up—at least there was no light to be seen at any of the windows. The street was qmte empty. The burglars now only spoke in whispers, fearful lest the sound of their voices should be carmed upon the still night air to unfriendly ears. hey were quite unprovided with tools—at least such implements as they wonld have chosen had they have it. GOnlGaoOokSreo >