Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

Tor) apr mead TR Ri, NO — I O n BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, the different objects in it could only be distinguished through a kind of haze. Before, however, he had time to do more thas just notice this, he heard a voice say— “Hullo,oldman. Youare back again,are you? Weil, cuss me if I didn’t think you never meant coming hack any more. Don’t gasp like that, you remind me of a great porpus opening and shutting his mouth. It’s all right, guv’ner. Only me, you know.” This was a most extraordinary speech for any one to make to Jonathan Wild. Who could it have been daring enougn to seat himself in his sanctum, and then address him in such a manner as soon as he came in? Jonathan Wild knew. The voice was familiar enough, to his sorrow. But the expression of the thief-taker’s countenance when those words fell upon his ear, and when he recog- ised the voice which uttered them, was really a picture see, In the first shock of surprise he started back. Then his countenance became livid with rage, and he opened and shut his mouth m the convulsive manner gbich had seemed to amuse the inmate of the room so much. , lt was only fora moment that Jonathan Wild allowed surprise to retain the mastery of him. With a howl of rage he dashed into the room. The smoke escaped in large quantities from the open door, and then the person who showed so little regard for the tinef-taker became revealed. By his attitude now it would seem that he had some dread of Jonathan when in one of his mad passions. He was standing with his back to the wall, and holding before him, in an attitude of defence, the clumsy wooden chair upon which he had been sitting. He was a youngish-looking man, though it would have been hard for any one to guess his age with precision. Drink and debauchery had left their traces upon his countenance, and made him look much older tlian he pro- bably was. He had a rakish, jaunty air, as though he was quite reckless and careless, both of himself and any one else. When Jonathan dashed in, he, with great coolness, held up the chair in such a manner as to repel any attack which might be made upon him, while he said— ‘Now, old man, don’t be a fool. Sit down quietly, can’t youP and don’t behave in that wild animal sort of way. Iam going to have a little talk with yon, just for Panperuaatance sake; so sit down, I say, and don’t bea ool,”’ ‘“Wretch!” cried Jonathan, struggling with his pas- sion, and endeavouring to speak. ‘‘ Wretch! have I not forbidden you to enter the house? Begone, or I will call my men, and they shall drive you out with their swords’ oints |” me Dont be a fool, guv’ner,” said the young man, with provoking coolness. ‘Don’t be a fool, I tell you. Sit down, and listen to reason.”’ This cool defiance of him, and this indifference to all he did, had an effect upon Wild which would scarcely have been expected. He was overpowered, and sank down in a chair. “That's right, old man—that’s right. Now I’ll join you, and we'll make ourselves comfortable.” As he spoke, the young man put down his chair at the corner of the table opposite to the one near which the thief-taker sat, and slowly settled himself in it. Then he stretched out his legs as though he was quite at his ease, and as though he considered Jonathan Wild the great the most insignificant creature in existence. From hints which have bcen dropped from time to time in this narrative, the reader doubtless conjectures who this young man was. He was Jonathan Wild’s son. A worthy son of so amiable and exemplary a parent. Such another pair as they were could uot have been found if you had searched all London over. : But somehow Jonathan seemed to have a dread of his gon. His coolness staggered him. *“Come, gov’ner,” said this hopeful youth, ‘don’t sit there as though you were ashamed of yoursolf, Here, try _e drop of that.” @ As he spoke, he pushed across the table a glass par- tially tilled with brandy. Wild took it, and swallowed the whole at one gulp. “Now, I should think you’re better, old chap. You seemed surprised to see me. Didn’t expect to, I daresay. Quite an unlooked-for pleasure. Here’s your good luck.” ‘‘ Tlave you come here to play the fool?” growled Wild. ‘* Be like a man of sense. Curse you! how could you show your face P”’ ‘“ Now, don’t use hard words, guv’ner; please don’t! Why shouldn’t I show my face? [Iknow. You allnde to that little affair that happened some time back ? ” *< Little affair!” repeated Wild, angrily. ‘ You uearly ruined me! You carried off all the wealth I possessed.” ** Sorry—sorry, of course! But what does 1t matter now? You have got plenty of money again, so I have come to sce you. Ha! ha! I have had a jolly lire! You'd never believe how I made the money fly! Egad! I astonished the folks. DBut it’s all gone now, every rap ; and I am completely hard up. That’s what brings me here to see you, guv’ner.” Jonathan Wild was fast recovering his self-possession. This unexpected meeting with his villainous son for a time unnerved him. The cool impudence of the fellow was rich in the extreme. It was quite clear he did not stand in that awe of the thief-taker that most people did. In the most. nonchalant manner conceivable, he leaned back in the chair, with lis feet supported upon a stool, with a glass of brandy in his fingers, which he every now and then raised to his lips. Jonathan looked at him with coutempt. Then, drawing from his coat-pocket a pistol, he very deliberately cocked it, and, leaning his elbow on the table, took a careful aim at his son. But that worthy took no notice whatever of the menac- ing action. He scarcely troubled to look towards him, but allowed the glass of brandy to occupy nearly the whole of his attention. ‘* George,” said Jonathan, in a voice of suppressed pas- sion, *‘ do you see this pistol ?” ** Of course I do, old man.” ** Leave the room, then—this house, or I pull the trig- ger and lodge a bullet in your head.” *¢ Pho—pho ! guv’ner ; you won’t do anything of the sort. Now, do be quiet for a little while, and listeu to reason.” ‘* T have listened toe often to what you have had to say,” replied Jonathan, ‘‘as I have since found tomy cost. How you could be admitted passes my comprehension, but who- ever allowed you entrance shall suffer dearly for it.” “Don’t be a fool! Can’t you hear? I keep asking you not to be a fool, and instead of paying the least atten- tion, you keep on talking the d—dest rubbish I ever heard !” Wild ground his teeth with rage. “You will carry this pleasantry a little too far, my spark, so I caution you in time.” ** Have a drop more brandy. I have come here to say something to you, and dam’me if I go away till I have said it.’ é 4 *‘ Leave this house!” said Wild, again, “or you will suffer for it.” ee was a baleful light in the thief-taker’s eye as he spoke. * Johnny,’ said hig son, “ I am very sorry we are not good friends. Iam sure we ought to be. I could assist you, and you could assist me. I know I had the chance once, but I was a young fool then. IT’ll tell you what it 1s, guv ner; if you will look over the past, I will, aud we will go into partnership with each other. What do you say?” Jonathan Wild laid his pistol down on the table. Here was what he wanted. His son had come back. Not showing many signs of contriteness, but sti!], he had come back. Never in all his life had Jonathan stood more in need of such aasistance as hig son could rendcr him than he did at that moment. Should he trust himagain? That was the question revolving in his mind when he laid the pistol down upon the table. 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