Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

= ~ BLUESKIN: PI NE GIORGI TO er a SS Jonathan drew up at the door and called to Quilt Ar nold to approach him. “Tam going iv here for 2 few moments,” he said. ‘Walk the horses up and down and keep a sharp look-out upon every person that passes you. I will send you out something to drink.” “Yes, Mr. Wild.” Jonathan entered the inn. He correctly calenlated that in the kitcheu of the inn he would find the principal people im the village assem- bled, and as it was only natural to suppose the Bridal of Death, as it might be termed, would be the subject of the conversation. Jonathan wanted some particulars respecting che fu- neral. He entered the kitchen then, and, as he expected, found it full of people, all busily engaged in talking. He sat down upon a seat near the door without exciting more than casual notice. As he passed the bar he had ealled for a glass of brandy-and-water for himselt and another for his man. Then, having been supplied, he prepared to listen to what was going forward. A little weazen-faced man, with a disagreeable eyuenk in g voice, was speaking. “You can say what you hie,” he cried, evidently in reply to some observation that had just been made. “ You can say what you like 5 but still, for all that, I shall stick to my own opinion !” “And what is that ?” “What is it? Why that before many days are over some of the London thieves wi!l be down here, and off the diamond head-dress will go!” This proposition was received with murmurs of disbelief. “Ah, well! time will show who’s right and who’s wrong. There hasn’t been time for it to get known among them yet; but when they do hear of it, you’lt see.’ ‘* But it would be sacrilege to break into a church ; he- sides, it would require some one with very strong nerves to descend into the vault at night, and in the di ark, for it would not do for them to show a light. 7 “Yes, I know that fast enough; but such a thing as that would be a powerful semptation, and there are men in London who would dare and do anything: for money.’ ‘| don’t say there ain’t, but this I do say, and that is if one of these London gentry as you’ve heen speaking about was to come down with the intention of taking the diamond head-dress, they would find it a harder job than thev anticipated.” Wild began to prick up his ears. Some information would now doubtless be given that _ would be of the most material assistance to him. “Fools!” he muttered ; ‘but it is as well there are so ree Ba the world, or how is a clever fellow to get 2 wing es,” said the thin man, with the squealing voice, | vl _ knew there would be considerable difficulty in the way.” a There would—more than they would be able to get over.’ Phos: phot” “First, then, there’s the church-door. It’s only last Whitsuntide that friend Robins here put a new lock on it. 33 ‘That's night enough,” said a person whom Jonathan supposed to be Robins ; ; “and a good lock it is, too. I made it myself, after a design of my own, and I give any one leave to try and pick it.” Wild smiled grimly. ““ Very well, but supposing they do pick the door.” ‘** No, no,’ ’ interrupted Mr. Robins, vehemently, “ they can't pick it, I tell you.’ “ But, just for the sake of argument, we'll say they do pick it. i “But what’s the good of supposing what cen’t come to pass P An argument must have something to stand on.’ “Well, well,” replied the other, “ we'll suppose they do get inside the chureh. They onght gct through the window, you know.” “Oh! very good,” said Robins, “ I don’t say nothing about the windows; I say they can’t pick the lock, so what would be the good of supposing it ?” “ Hear, hear! cf course!” murmured the company. * YT say we'll aw agli Sai they get inside the church. ee ae ; A ROMANCE. eG sere ee ihe difficulties have only just began. Mme ce You all know where the vault is—just in front of the altar? ” ‘* Yes—yes.” “ Well, the stone that covers it, you know very well, is a flat slab of mar ble, and weighs I don’t kuow low many hundredweight.” “ Five or Six,’ ” said a voice. “Then wasn’t it mortared down this very afternoon, and now [ should like to know how they are to get it up, eh ? without any one in the village beius aware of it?” “ My friend,” said the weazened-face man again. “ In the course of my lite P’ve been toa great many places and seen a great many things, and | can tell you that I have known thieves do more w ouderftl and seemingly impos- sible things than that would be.” “They must have an uncommon pluck: to try such a thing on, and no mistake,” said another voice. “It isn’t a diamond wreath th aut w ould tempt me todo sucha thing bad as LI want money.’ ** Now then, are you going to step sotting here all nicht, [ should like to know ?” said a woman, whose appearance may oe brietly summed up in the words, fat, fair, and forty.” Ain’t you ashamed of yours olf, Mr. D. to sit here setting such an example ; keeping inen away from their ives ; but it’s just lke you, you wretch, Look at the cioek ; it’s nearly half-past eleven!’ The rapidity and shrillness with whieh these words were uttered produced an electrical effect upon the com- pany. Even Jouathan was so disconcerted that he took a hue gulp of his brandy and water. * But my dear,’ began an apologetic voiee, et.” “What do you mean, Mr. D.?” said the landlady, with additional wrateness; “ how can I forget P Can you look the elock in the face without feeling downright ashamed of yourself ?” Mr. D. made no reply, from which it may be inferred that he would feel ashamed of himself, nor would it need m1 conjurer to divine he was a subject to yuarehy,. But the guests seemed pertectly to cndemtand what was meant. One and all finished what ever there was before them, and the knocking out of pipes was something terrific They were all in a burry to depart. A strict woiuan was Mrs. Dyer, the landlady, and lord too, of the “ 'Tiger’s Head.’ Every night was the front door closed, and the company turned out punctually at eleven o ‘clock, but ou this oceasion she allowed them au extra half hour, But, despite her acerbity, a capital business was done at the “ Tiger’s lead.” Mays. Dyer was a special favour- ile with every one of the customers, for she we one of ** tine you for- those monstrosities of feminine nature known as woman.’ But in this case the word “fine” has always been a meaning very different to what Dr. Johnson set down for it in his dictionary. He defines it “ pure; thin; not coarse.’ Now, neither ot these definitions ean apply to a fine woman, with the exception of the last; but, in this case, the negative must be removed. Then you have it exactly. However, Jonathan Wild, seeing this state of things, deemed it expedient not to attract attention towards hin- self by remaining until the room was clear, so was nearly the first to leave it. Quilt Arnold was walking the horses up and down, ac- cor ding to orders. Jenathan mounted inmediately, and set off at a gallop. It would be necessary for him to defer the commence- ment of his attack until the whole of the inhabitants were deep in their first sleep. His brief sojourn at the “Tiger’s Head” had in its resulis surpassed his utmost expectatiens. He had acquired there the very information necessary to the successful execution of his plan. Quilt Arnold was far from pleused. But the night wus by no means so inclement as it had The wind had considerably abated—the sky nae Tashes been. become clear of clouds, and so the uuconfortable c¢ of rain came no longer. During this ride Jonathan arranged Ya his mind bis exact, a of operahions, FE REL S NPR aT LPP OT Reet @ 2S, TAS Fn an ee EO DOO 5}