Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 296: what you’re looking at

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

SE Pe)? ce re Ee Ee ove el _ a a ae a 394 grequentiy, when they are alone, otter their thoughte aloud. Stegga did in the present instance. ‘‘ No—no,” he said; ‘‘ that were indeed a poor revenge. I will not slay him now, though I could easily do go. I will save him—not from any pity tbat I have for him, bat because he shall live longer, in order that my triumph ahall be greater. I must be patient, and wait until he has achieved the height of his ambition—until all those daring schemes which he has projected are consummated. Then will be my time. He shall be cast down from the pinnacle of his greatness.” Steges paused, and restored his knife to his poereu Brighter and brighter grew the new coming day, but the thief-taker atill slept that heavy and lethargic sleep into whieh he had fallen. Steggs glided away from the bedside, noiselessly, and then ascended the stairs, A chair was provided for him in which to eit, but he passed it by, aud made his way direct to the chamber in the occupation of poor Edgworth Bess. He tapped lightly with his finger-ends upon the panel, and from the quickness with which his appeal was answered, it would eeem as though the fair prisoner had been anxionsly expecting him. With the skeleton key which he had taken from Mary Milliner he opened the door and went in. Edgworth Bess wae wonderfully recovered. Indeed, with the exception of a slight weakness, she might almost be said to have entirely recovered from the hard ueage she had received. She was up and dressed, and stood before Steggs with her hands alasped; looking him beseechingly in the face, like one who fully expected to be made the recipient of bad news. Hor apparel was ragged and torn, for it had been as roughly used as herselt, and showed the effects of it, but it could not mar the beauty of her face, nor the grace of her symmetrical form. “‘ Speak—speak,”’ she cried. ‘That was Jonathan I heard return, was it not? He has returned from his search after Jack Sheppard.” “Calm yourself,” said Steggs, ‘* you have nothing to be alarmed at. Jonathan has returned, and now hes, as I take it, in a drunken slumber, in one of the rooms below. He has only just returned, and has brought no prisoners with him.” ‘hank heaven for that. have once more eluded him. great hope.” ‘There is, indeed,’ said Steggs. “A little patience now, and then doubtless all will be well. I shull see Blueskin soon, and from him I shall learuv further pur- ticulars, and more especially the plan of action which it is hig intention to adopt,’ Ab! yes. I’or my own part I cannot see my way out of the perilous circumstances with which Lam surrounded, but then they may. They are atronger-minded than J am. ‘© Tam glad you have such a feeling of reliance upon them, since it will make their proceedings all the easier. **QOhl if I could but leave this hateful place; if I could bat be once more with them, my sufferings would not seem half so great.” ““Cheer up. You may eee them even sooner than you expect.” ** It eeema ages since I saw them last.” “Tt is a long time; and now let me leave you. | wish I could make you feel entirely at your ease. Believe me, while I have the guard of your chamber, no harm will happen to you. If Jonathan attempts to use any violence towards you, he dies. I do not fancy, however, that just at present you have anything to fear from him. Still, if I was found here in con- versation with you, all would be rniued.” ** All would, indeed. Go now at once; for thouch I] am loath to send you away, still I feel that you have etayed here quite as long as prndence would allow.” teggs bowed, as though he quite concurred with this opinion, and then he took his leave. He resumed his old seat upon the ehair, and leaning his head upon his hands, he busted himself in planning rd one he should uae to completely overthrow Jonathan Then Jack and Blueskin Oh! there is hope in that, ue ee i ,, ——— 2 BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. To the proceedings of thia last-named individual we will now return. The fierce beams of a noonday gun, falling directly upon his eyes, awoke him. They did not have that effect immediately, but gradually. When the thief-taker did open his eyes, there came reed 7 flood of light upon them that he felt almost inded. That feeling, however, soon passed away. But his head was racked with such terrible pains that he knew not what to do. He felt that if they continued long he must inevitably go mad. Scarcely conscious, he rose from the bed upon which he had fallen, dressed just as he was, and sitting down upon the side of it, he pressed his temples with his hands, and looked about him. On the opposite side was a larye pitcher full of water. The neck was large, and probably the whole quantity of water contained in it was nothing under two gallons. With a cry, euch as some parched traveller npou the burning deserts of Arabia wight give utteranee to upon seeing a pool of water betore him, Jonathan Wild sprang across the room to this pitcher. He knelt down. Then plunged his barning, aching head into the pitcher, until it was etopped from going any farther by his shoulders pressing against the brim. CHAPTER CCV. LORD DONMULL HAS A CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN WILD, AND THE LATTER EXHIBITS SOME OF HIS OLD TREACHERY. THE gush of cold water was intensely delightful. The burning and the pain which had before been so excruciating, vanished as if by magic. a want of breath soon compelled him to withdraw his head. He felt incomparably better, and so soon as he had inflated his lungs, he plnnyed his head in again with a still keener appreciation ot the delight which it afforded him. And so he continued this process lime after time, until in the end he felt something like himself. His next proceeding was to attend to his dresa, which was rather disordered. Jonathan Wild, however, was not the man to expend much time npon his toilette. Upon emerging from his room, which he did with a scowl upon his face, he crosged the landing, and ascended the stairs. Stegys was at tis post. “Tg all well?’ asked the thief-taker. ‘¢ All, Mr. Wild,’ replied Steggs. ‘* I have not moved from my post.” “Good! Keep a good watch upon her, and the moment anything of an unusual character occurs, comn- “annicate with me.” ‘You may depend upon me, Mr. Wild.” “So far you have performed your duty moat satis- factorily. You are eure all is well P” “All, Mr. Wild.” “Then I will go down now. It is late, and I have business to attend to. But let me again tell you that if you will continue to serve me faithfully, your reward shall be most ample.” Steggs protested his thanks. Jonathan descended the stairs. Upon gaining tho hall on the ground-floor, he saw Quilt Arnold in the passage. That worthy caught sight of the thief-taker at that moment, and he came towards him as though he had some important message to deliver. * What is it, Quilt ?” “A gentleman has been waiting to see you, Mr. Wild, evor siuce the tirst thing this morning,” “Ha! Whois he?’ ‘s Ile gave me this card, which he paid would be auf cient,’ There was no name on the card, but simply a creat. It was euflicient, for Jonathan recoynised it instaatly It was the crest belonging to the Donmall family. ** Where is he ?” he asked. i a a ET mae COMmicloooe C S (SO)