Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

pws eptegpnqgureeaeney” = * (ices Sac NigRCRN IE RENT iad <2 Me OE SET BELLE. PUSAN 196 Down this, however, he managed to elowly make his way, until he reached a small square aperture in the wall —diguified by the name of the bar-window—at which sat a most repulsive-looking woman. Her dress hung in tatters about ber. Her hair was in disorder. Her face was begrimed with dirt, and het eyes were bleared and bloodshot. . “What do you want ?’’ she asked, 1n shmill, querulous tones, for she was never over-civil, even to her best cus- tomers. “Rost,” said Blaeskin, in as firm and loud a voice as he could command. “I will pay you well for it.” He struck his pocket as he spoke. _ The jingling sound produced had an instantaneous effect upon the old harridan. “Yes, sir; to be sure; I will attend to you im one moment, sir.” _— She sprang off the stool upon which she had been sitting as she spoke, and, openiug a door, emerged into the passage. oe ‘TY have had to fly for my life,” exclaimed Blueskin, as he noted the effect which his bedraggled appearance had upon the hostess. ‘‘ [ have had to fly for my life, and am well nigh axhausted. Let me rest awhile, and that 1 will pay you well for your accommodation, Ict that be an earnest.” While speaking, he plunged his hand into the pocket of his trousers and produced a guinea. The eyes of the old woman glistened with an unholy lustre as the yellow coin was dropped into her palm. ‘Thanks, good sir; thanks,’ she said. ‘‘ You shall have the best which the poor place affords, which is not much however. Walk in here, sir, if you please.” With an obsequiousness that was really sickening, when the cause which had produced it was known, the woman ushered him into the httle chamber where she had been sitting. It was a truly miserable den, entirely destitute of every thing m the shape of comfort. The ceiling was grimed with soot. The walls positively reeking with filth. But, bad as the place was, Blueskin was right glad to seat himself upon the chair which the old woman offi- ciously placed for him. “Ts there anything more you would lke?” she asked. “There is no licence to this house, but I can send out for anything you want.’ “No—no! Never mind! I shall do! require!” ‘Very good, sir! Perhaps you would hike a bed, though. If you would, I can let you have one. A private room, all to yourself.” “Can you?” **T can, sir.” Then I will accept your offer.” The woman’s eyes glistened as the words reached her ears, but with some trouble she concealed her exultation. *<T will see to the room being got ready, then- for you, if you won’t mind waiting a minute.” “* Very good.” With eager haste, the old woman left the bar, carefully closing the door after her. That caution which usually attended Blueskin, seemed on the present occasion to have abandoned him. He noticed not the sinister appearance of the place, nor the avaricious look upon the old hag’s countenance. He had assented to taking a bed, not only because he so much wanted rest, but because he should be more out of the way in case search should be made for him ; and from what he knew of the great thief-taker he felt pretty sure there very soon would be. The thought of the amount of persoual peril he might be incurring by his sojourn in the suspicious-looking lodging- house never entered his mind. Yet none knew much better than himself how many fearful dens there were along the water-side, into which it would be the height of imprudence for ar*™ ““e to venture. But there is every allowance to be made for hig being, on the present occasion, blind to danger. It may be as well to remind the reader that he had about his person the whole of the money and valuables which had fallen into bis hands during Iis highway A reat 18 all I BLUESKIEN : & ROMANCE. expedition with Jack Sheppard, and this was ne incon- siderable amount. At any rate, the old woman must have had some very powerful motive for being so civil to one whose appear- ance would certainly never of itself have commanded it. But we will not anticipate events by explaining what her motives were just at present. She was only absent a few minutes. ** Now, sir,” she said, as she returned, “all is ready, if you will follow me.” Blueskin rose. He felt sick and faint. Not only was there the immersion in the cold Thames, but also the wound in the neck, which the bullet from Wild’s pistol had inflicted. This, though not what would be exactly called serious, was yet more than skin deep, anda great quantity of blood had effused from it. From these two causes combined, then, it ean be easily seen that he must be dreadfully exhausted. Indeed, few frames could have endured oue half so much. Right glad was he to follow the landlady of the lodging. house out of the bar, across a passage, and up a flight of dirty, crazy stairs. At the top of these were several doors, one of which she opened, and allowed him to enter a small room, in which the first thing he noticed was a fire. From its appearance it had evidently just been lighted. Through the window came just enough morning light to make the different objects visible. ‘““This is our best room, sir,” said the landlady, with a wave of the hand. ‘“‘ You will find everything qmte cem- fortable.”’ ** No doubt—no doubt. Just listen to me.” *¢ Yes, sir.” ‘‘If any one comes here to make inquiries whether you have seen @ man answering to my description, just say no.” The woman nodded. “ It, will be nothing out of your pocket,’ added Blake. ‘‘There are those after me who would gladly take my life; but so far I have escaped them, and shall do so altogether, if ??—— ‘Tf Tam silent,” said the landlady. ‘‘ Lor’ bless you, sir, I never knows nothing about my customers, if people come and inquire. Don’t be afraid, you'll be as safe here as if you was’’—— She paused for a simile. ‘* Asif I wag in my coftin,’ added Blueskin. Lor!” gaid she, as she gave a great start. ‘Leave me. I have money, and will pay you well for your assistance. Leave ine, I muet rest.” “ You won’t have nothing to drink P”’ ‘*No—no!” “Very good, sir. Just as you like, sir, of course.” ‘*T don’t half like that woman,’ said Blueskin, as the landlady closed the door after her. ‘‘ She is no geod, I know, but she had better not play any tricks with me, or she will find she has got the wrong fellow to deal with.” Going to the fire, he gave it a good poke, which caused the fuel to burn up briskly, and burst into a blaze. His next proceeding, before lying down, was to dry his clothes. This he did by standing before the fire. The easiest and best plan would have been, of course, to take off his clethes and dry them, but there were several reasons why he thought it would be injudicious to do this. Not the least of them was the dread that he had that Wild might find him out, and if he did the only chance he would have of defending bimself would be lost to him if he was undressed. While drying himself, he also bound up his wound as well ag he was able, for, frem some cause or other, it had began to bleed afresh. In a little while after this, beimg quite overpowered, he sank down upon the bed, and dropped into a deep slumber. By this time it was quite broad day, but a thick, dark- coloured curtain, which bung before the window, pre- vented the Hght from entering, except in a subdued fashion. About a quarter of an hour after Blueskin fell asleep, the handle of the door was turned cautiously and silently. No further movement was then made for about a minute. 2 ler RO ER ta pena ns OS TL eT TE, STA COMmMICDOoOKS.c© 5}