Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

S23 3 eR EY SURE Uae Saya ee BT SERS atti grt Ne T Se BLUESKIN: & ROMANCE **tfow much can you give?” asked Jack, who was caper and impatient to arrive at the result.” They do not weigh just the same each,” said the Jew, “although the difference is slight. I can give you forty- eight pounds for the four, and, if you will believe me, that is almost their full value.” ‘* Say fifty,” cried Jack, while he rapidly divided the whole number of ingots by four and multiplied them by fifty, in order to get at the total value of the whole. ‘*No; I can only say forty-eight.” ‘That is twelve pounds each,” said Blaeskin. * Just so; and I should not say s0 little as that, only I thought it would induce yon to be liberal with me.” “Well, give us ten pounds each, and keep the remain- der ou account. You shall have nothing to complain of from us on the score of hberality.” This matter being thus adjusted, a meal was brought in, and while they were discussing it, Blueskin spoke to the old Jew as follows— ** Aaron, we want you to render us a service—a very important service, and yet an easy one. Will you do ner” “Of course I will.” “That's hearty. Now listen to me.” “JT am all attention.” “As I daresay you know, there is, next door to Jona- than Wild’s house in Newgate-strect, a house which is let out in lodgings.” vl did not know it, but I daresay there is, ag you say ** Well, this house is occupied by a shoemaker, who keeps the ground floor, and lets all the rest of the house to lodgers.” The Jew nodded. ‘* They are always having changes in thieir tenants, so I want you to go there at once and asccrtain whether they have one of their top attics to let.” ** T understand.” ** Mind you, no other room than one next to the roof, and with a window opening on to the tiles will anawer my purpose. Do you understaud that ?” Oo “ Well, then, if there shonld be, and JI think it very likely, you will please take that room for Jack and mysclf, without, of course, saying who we are. You can call us Mr. Jones anc Mr. Smith.” * But you acn’t mean lo say you are apartments next doer to Jonathan Wild’s? “Yes we are, but never you mind that. If you quite understand what we want, be good enough to oblige us by setting off at once. If they want any reference, you can pay them a guinea on account.” “Allright. If there is an attic to let in the house you mention, I will take it.” * Do sa.” ‘** But how if thero 1s not?” ‘“'T'ry all the other houses on that side of Warwicik-lane, though I should much prefer the one I mentioned, if yon can manage it.” “TY am off now. Here are the ton pounds each you asked for, and the remainder is to goon account. You must remember I was responsible for the two horses you have lost.” Yes, I know all about that, andif you will serve us fatally, I will take care that you are not a loser it.” "We Jew, a few minutes afterwards, set out upon his errand, and Jack and Blueskin, who were both much fatigued, repaired to the room they had previously occu- nied, and endeavoured to obtain a few hours’ rest upd sleep. ; roing to take Not only did they stand in immediate need of ‘octh on! the score of exhaustion, but they felt that in all probability they would have a hard and harassing night's work to do, and wuen they should Lave another chance as good as the present was very problematical. They bad not to wou slumber long. It soon came to em. When they awoke, the Jew was standing at their bedside. “What is the result of your errand?” cried Blresktn. Tell ine at ouce. Do not kcep us in suspense.” * Succces.” Yon have met with success P” OS ere EET RSE EE ve CE a OR a ee > a gr Re ee SE AE 5 DST OT ** Yes, tha back attic in the shoemaker’s house is to iet.” “Was to let, yon moan?” * Just so.” And you hays taken it for Mr. Smith and Mr. JonesP” Veg,’ OHNAPTER COXXIY. OUR £70 PRIENDS DEPART UPON THEIE PERILOUS EXPEDITON. ‘Bravo, Aaron,’ said Blucskin, leaping off the bed upon which he had thrown himself, without removing any of hisapparel. ‘ Let us hear the whole of the story from beginning to end.” * Very well,” replied Tumposki. ‘* I went from here straight to Newgate-street, and next door to Jonathan Wild’s I found the shoemaker’s, as you described.” ‘Did you look up at Jonathan’s honse ?” asked Jack, 7 did.” ** Did you see anything ?” Nothing unusual. The door wag closed.” Go on about the shoemaker,” said Blueskin. © That is what I want to hear most.” “ T found the front door open.” ** Tt always is.” “J knocked, and presently the landlord made his appearance. I told him what I wanted, and he said © Ycs, some people that had lived in his top back-attic had moved yesterday.’ I asked to see the place, so he took me up an endless lot of stairs, until at last, passiug through a door, we stood in a little bit of a place that could not be called a room.” ‘* Never mind what it could be called,” said Blueskin. *“JIad it got a window opening on to the tiles? ” “Oh! yes.” : “That is everything, then.” **T thought the place would suit you, so I asked how much the rent was, and he told me two shillings a-weck.” ** Did bo ask for any references P”’ “Yes; bnt I told him that the two gentlemen who were about to take it would only want to occupy jt occasionally, and that they had commissioned me, i felt any scruples about the matter, to pay him ten wf he in advance.” eeks “What did he say then?” * On! that removed all difficulty, and I gave him a guinea, telling him to keep the extra shilling to drink your health.” . ug told him we should want to come to-night.” ‘Yes.” * Did he make any objection P” “None whatever.” “What is about the time P” ** Noon.” Very well; we shall not waut to go till dusk, so you will please let us stay where we are until then.” “ Acreed.” “We want to have as much sleep as we can, for I have no idea when we shall get another chance.” When shall I call you ?” * Just about sunsct. We will then come down, have something to eat, and start off.” “OP course, it is nolhing to me,” said the Jew; “ but T think you will be running into very great danger by roiling to Newgate-street. You are a couple of darivg ehaps, T know; but still I think you ought to use a little diseretion.” “Trust to us,” said Blueskin; “our plans are carefully matured, and the danger we shall incur will not be half so much as you seem to think.” * Tam glad to hear it.” “ Leave us now, aud rest assured that to-night we shall strike such a blow at Jonathan Wild that he will scarcely be able to recover from it.” The Jow’s eyes gliltered, and rubbing his hands briskly torether, he said— ‘** Lot me see you do that—let me see you do that, and I will cheerfully assist you in any way that lies in my power. If you want money to carry out the euterprize ugdinst him, call upon me. I would give you the last shekel [ possessed.” “ Mfuko your mind easy,” said Jack; ‘* you must know tuat whenover I mske up my mind to do a thing I always Sarees « COMIC ooo CC SS o(CO) an