Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 343: what you’re looking at

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aww Well, for the present he is safe, and I need not trouble myself any further just now concerning him. I can make up my mind as to his ultimate disposal at any time. Ifo is a weak fool, or he might have erjoyed the property for some time yet; but he was free to choose, and he has made his choice, so it is but fair that he should abide by it. Then JI sball retire from this harassing life I have Been leading. Itis wearing me out. I can feel it is, but then I shall have rest—plenty of rest; and as the husband of Lady Donmull I should be forgotten and unrecognised as the notorious thief-taker. I shall not goto her with an empty pocket. I have riches now sufficient to satisfy even an avaricious man, and with such wealth at my dis- posal I shall, after the lapse of a few years, be able to urchase a transfer of the title to myself, and then fomktban Wild will be henccforward known as Lord Donmull!” CHAPTER COXXXV. THE THREE FUGITIVES FIND ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL NOT SUCH A COMFORTABLE PLACE OF REFUGE AFTIER ALL. -{t would have been no bad thing if some one had been at hand to warn Jonathan Wild of the folly of counting his chickens before they were hatched. The occupation of castle building in the air is, how- ever, found to be a pleasant occupation by almost all parties, and the thief-taker was no exception. It was so delightful to lie therein that state of semi-somnolency and picture what he should do. He, however, felicitated himself rather too early, and looked: upon the thing as already done when it actually was not begun. The plan he had laid down was most certainly a very good one—perhaps the best that could have been devised to answer the end intended. But then, like all other schemes, it depended for realization upon a great many contingences, and should any of these turn out different to what he expected, the whole complexion of affairs would be altered. There was a great deal to be done yet. Jack Sheppard and Blueskin were at large, and they had Edgworth Bess under their protection. Of that, however, as his reflections will serve to show, the thief-taker did not seem to think much. True, they had eluded him, and their present where- abouts was quite unknown to him; but he relied upon hearing something ere Jong which would enable him to effect their capture ; and he made up his mind thatif Jack | so Sheppard once more fell into his hands, he would take such precantions as to make ita matter of total impossi- bility for him to escape. He cursed himself for his remissness on former occa- sions, and yet, when he thought upon the subject, he could not help feeling a certain amount of admiration for the eee youth who had twice done what no other man had ever dreamed of accomplishing. But Jonatlian soon banished that feeling. He had reasoned himself into one course of action, and he determined to follow it. There was something antago- nistic between Jack Sheppard and himself, and he felt sure that none of his schemes would be brought to a suc- cessfal end if he was alive, for hitherto had he not sprang up and thwarted every one? Jonathan’s thoughts turned most upon the prescut situa- tion of those three persons whose capture he was so anxious to effect. ** They are hiding,” he said. “Iam sure of it. They must be hiding. Butwhere? Not far off, ’U be bound ; perhaps under my nose. Well, we shall see. I will have spies posted in every direction, whose special business it shall be to look for them. Then, when they make their appearance—as they must do sooner or later—then I shall know my course. I will have a horse provided and a band of mounted men in readiness. Then i will put my- self upon their track, and if I lose sight of them thia time, T will never try to capture them again. But I shall follow them—I shall hunt them to earth—then I sha]! triumph, and all that I have aimed at shall be mine. “Oh! what a difference it would havo made to me if I could have had Jack Sheppard on my side! If he had ever been at hand—not like he is now, to thwart my plans, but to aid mein them! But I must not think ofthat. 1 have sworn he shall die at T'yburn, and I will keep my oe We. eee ee DOW CrGn Pe °° om - 341 oath. J have an old score to sottle with him: his father once struck me, then crossed me in an affair which I had near at heart. 1 took an oath that I would be revengcd upon him, and I was, for less than a month afterwards hs swuug at Tyburn! And there this accursed brat of his shall follow him, or, confound him! I shall know no peace!” Having reached this point in hig reflections, Jonathan rose, with the intention of putting some of his resolves into execution. He spent buta very few moments over hig toilette, and then went downstairs. He then found that midday had passsd. The pangs of hunger began to make themselves apparent now that he was so thoroughly rested, but before he attempted to satisfy them, he called Quilt on one side, aud gave him various instructions relative to posting the spies. The order was obeyed immediately, and various mem- bers of Wild’s gang were communicated with, who placed themselves in various positions about the metropolis to keep good watch upon every one they saw, and in the event of either of the three fugitives coming under their notice, they were by no means to lose sight of them, but communicate without delay with the great thicf-taler himself, This having been done, Jonathan Wild, feeling much stronger and better than he had done for days past, went over to the eating-house in Giltspur-street, where he dis- patched a hearty meal. Under such circumstances as these wo feel that we can leave him for a time while we repair to St. Paul’s Cathe- dral, beneath which roof are those in whom we feel a much greater interest than we can in the villainous thief- talrer, The night passed away without their meeting with an interruption of any kind. Eidgworth Bess slept calmly and quietly upon tho soft cushions of the pew. At length, when morning came and a faint light strug- gled in at the windows of the cathedral, showing that, ere long, the interior of the place would be illuminated by the sun, Blueskin, who was watching, touched Jack Sheppard, who was asleep, on the arm and woke him. For a moment Jack could not think in what strange place he was, but he saw his compauion by his side, and then recollected all. “ Jack, YT have been thinking for this last half-hour or Of what P” ** Many things, but chiefly what we should do with our. selves when daylight came.” «© Why P” “We cannot remain where we now are. You must be aware that during the day not a portion of the cathedral remains unvisited by some one or other.” ‘* T suppose not.” * Now this will only be a good hiding-place for us so long as we are not suspected to be in it, but the moment that Fr known, 1t will be the most dangerous place in the world.” ‘Very true; I had not thought of that.” ** Bess still slumbers. Now you can tell, by the faint light which finds its way in here that morning is coming on apace, and therefore it behoves us to make up our minds quickly as to where we shall secrote ourselves dur- ing the remainder of the day. When the officials arrive it will be too late.” “So it will, And have you been thinking about all this P”’ Vos.” “Then I should not be afraid to say that you have thought of some place where we can safely hide our- selves.’ “T can’t say but what I have, Jack; still I should like you to reflect as well ag myself. I can only think of one place, and that has some disagreeables connccted with it, so I would fain tind another.” * Wall, let me think. What placo is the least visited ? Why, I know!” “© What ?” “‘T have heard many a time that underneath St. Parl’s Cathedral there are numberless vaultcd passages. ‘lney ave like the streets in a town. That will be the place for a o 9 er — — BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, } EO NOOKS (C (SO) 5}