Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

anaes ta mam @! SORES a BLUESKIN : a a a a a a i, became an impossibility for him to place his foot in the stirrnp. This did not tend to in any way abate Wild’s ill temper, and the curses which he wttered were really awful to hear. ‘ Presextly, however, he spied an opportunity, and at the risk of bis own neck, put his foot in the stirrup. But he mounted in perfect safety. No sooner, however, had he got his seat upon the creature’s back, than he proceeded to vent hig ill humour upon it. With brutal recklessness, he plunged his spurs again and again into the flanks of his steed, until it uttered loud snorts of pain. ; The way in which it pranced and reared would have thrown many a practised rider, but by some strange means or other, Jonathan held on. Away they went, as though a legion of fiends was at their heels, down the Old Bailey, and on to Ludgate-hill. With unabated speed they swept down this busy thoroughfare. ; ; The approach to the old bridge was quickly gained. Here he slackened a little. The horse was completely cowed. | . Looking restlessly from side to side, allowing nothing to escape his eagle glance, Jonathan went on across the bridge, for the hope that he should find his men waiting there for him still held a resting-place in his heart. But nothing of them could he see, until, having gone some distance down the Blaekfriars-road, he turned back again towards London. Blinded as he was by rage, yet he was both puzzled and alarmed. In no way that he contd think of was he able te se +¢ for the disappearance of his two men. : The thought that they had left his service, and consented to join their fortunes to those of Jack Sheppard, wver occurred to him for a moment, or, if it did, he considered it as being altogether too preposterous to be entertained. And now from house to house he went, making the most rigid inquiries, but nowhere could he learn anything. _ Thoroughly satisfied, at length, that it would be quite futile to search or inquire any further, he made his way into Fleet-street. : Here he paused, and, after a moment’s thought, instead of going back to his own house, he turned his horse’s head in the direction of Drury-lane. Once before he had learned tidings there of the persons he pursued, and why should he not do so again. It did not take him very long to reach the ‘‘ Old Black Lion,” and having done so, he dismounted, and commanded his followers to do so likewise. A man who was lounging about, at a sign from him took charge of the horses. He entered the inn, closely followed by his men. It will be remembered that on the eceasion of his former visit, he had left two of his men there to keep enuard. These, upon hearing him arrive, instantly approached him. Bunt they cecfared, in the most positive manner, that nothing had been seen, either of Sheppard or Blueskin ; in fact, they were certain neithcr had been there. The reader must kearin mind that this was the morn- ing of the day upon the evening of which Jack had made 4 visit to the old place. In a worse temper than ever, Jonathan turned away, and remounted his horse. He shaped his course to Newgate-strect, for his business had been rather neglected of late, ior as for searching for bis prey through Lendon, no one kuew better than him- self the mutilaty af that when there was nothing to serve hina as a clue. He arened that no long time couid possibiy elapse before he heard something of them, and that would afford him the oppportunity to act. Besides which, he had other matters on hand. None of them perhaps so important to him as they were, but then, notwithstanding that, they required attention. Therefore he made the hest of his way back to the rlace froin which he had started, for even now the hour was an early one, and he would be able to get back before the business of the day began. Bat we faucy no one, who knew just what had taken ESTE TEE aR tara ay A ROMANCE, 199 place that morning, would have ventured to intrude upon the thief-taker on that day at least. Without the occurrence of anything important enough for us to record it, Newgate-street was reached. Wild flung himself off his horse, and left it to take care of itself. He had had a new master-key made since Jack stole the one he formerly carried, and not only that, he had had some alterations made in the locks themselves, which would make the old key quite useless. It so happened that Tonks’ turn of duty had expired. He was succeeded by Quilt Arnold. Jonathan rammed his key in the lock, and swung the door back with all the force he possibly could. But Quilt, who had been for some time in his employ, was acquainted with all his little amiable tricks, so he took good care to stand aside and let the door bang harm- lessly against the wall, which it did, but it made a most horrible clatter. Jonathan did not deign to open his lps, but stalked down the hall or passage of his house ike some grim old giant along the corridor of his castle. In nine cases out of ten, when he entered his house, the first place that he went into was hig office, and so he did upon the present occasion. Passing through the half-door in the wooden railings, whieh divided the room into two portions, he shut it behind him, and mounted his stool. Now he came to sit down he found how much he must have been exerting hi:nself for he broke out all over in a profuse perspiration. He drew out a spotted blue pocket-handkerchief, and wiped lis disagreeable-looking face with it. Then he twitched his wig violently. Nothing vexed the great Jonathan so much as being “foiled, and lately he had, in connexion with Sheppard and Blueskin, met with nothing but defeat. His ruminations, however, were not destined to extend to any great length. They were interrupted by a faint tap, tap upon the panel of the door. ** Who’s there ?” he yelled. * Me, sir, if you please!” It was Quilt Arnold’s voice. ** Come in, then!”’ Accordingly, although it was with no small degree of hesitation, the janizary opened the door. ** Well, villain,” said Wild, “ what is it ? ” “A man, Mr. Wild, if you please, wants to see you on some very important business indeed !”? “What's his name ?” ** Glucks!”’ CHAPTER CXXXVIII. JONATHAN WILD IS VERY UNEASY AND ALARMED ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS BOX. ‘““GriucKs!” roared Jonathan Wild. ‘‘ What do you mean by Glucks?” “That is his name, Mr. Wild.” Bah!” ‘* Yes, sir.” ** Send him in.” All right, sir! He’s in No. 9.” Quilt Arnold vanished with these words on his lips, felicitating himself upon lus good luck. With all the speed he possibly could, he made his way across the passage to the well-known little waiting-room, - which was always known as No. 2, iu order to tell the man with the strange name that Jonathan Wild would see him. It was a very strange name, and ono might almost argue from it that a man with such a strange name must want to see the thicf-taker upon very strange business. But be his business what it may, and whether strange or not, we shall very quickly know. Upon receiving the intimation from Quilt, he rose hur- riedly to his feet from the seat upon which he had been sitting, and in a nervous sort of manver picked up a mya- terious-looking box. This he held tightly, as thongh it was something of great importance. ; In length it was probably eight or nine inches, in breadth four, in depth three. > a (SO) NOOlKKS CO 5}