Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 374: what you’re looking at

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

ILE TOLOO POE ZT. OO LE A A A A ROMANCE BLUESKIN : ED SO EE 1 It would be running a great risk to take this son of his into his confidence, and yet he felt disposed to do so. | Ile might have ehanged somewhat, and with imereasire years obtained more sense. | “ George,’ said Wild to his son, and speaking in a calmer tone of voice than he had done hitherto, “* you might have been a son to meif you had so ehosen. But instead of that, you treated me like a treacherous foe ”’ “T know all about that, old man.” ‘© And so do I.” “What need is there to say anything about it?” “When you left me you earried off nearly all my wealth, all that I had aceummiated during many years. There was not a guinea of that money which did not cost a drop of blood. You took it, and you left me a penniless and a ruined mane “But you have made that all zight again now, guv’ner. It appears to me we are just the right sort to go into partuership. You to get the mouey, and me to spead ©4393 “Bah! If you cannot speak in a more sensible manner respecting business, begone; I want you not. But it, on the other hand, you feel disposed to aid me in the plans I am earrying out, you will be able to have as much money as you can desire.” “That sounds well, governor. IJ’ll aid you, don’t be afraid, for I do want money now uncommonly bad.” ‘But is it possible that you have iu so short a time squandered the whole of the large sum of money you absconded with ?” “‘T believe you. It’s a long whilo ago, recollect, and I have seen a little bit of life since then, I can tell you.” “TI hope the lesson, then, has not been thrown away, and that you have profited by it.” “Never mind that just now, governor. If you have got some good things in view, and want some one to help you to carry them out, why, [ mean to say you eould not fiud any one more suited to the job than George Wild!” CHAPTER CCXLIX. JONATITAN WILD HAS A FEW WORDS WITIT HIS SON, AND COMES TO AN UNDERSTANDING WITID ITIM. JONATIIAN WILD bent upon his son a searching glance as he uttered these words, in order to read him, if possible, to the soul, and ascertain how munch reliance was to be placed upon his words. But the indifferent air assamed by the hopeful youth made this an exceedingly difficult matter, even for the astute Jonathan Wild. “What guaranty could I have,’ he said, at length, “that you would act fairly with meP I feel very little inclination to trust you without a seenrity of some kind. How do I know that you will not seize upon the first opportunity you have to serve me the same trick you did betore.” “You must run the risk of that, guv’ner.” **Pho—pho. This foolery will dono good. Be serious for a moment, and let us talk quietly together.”’ “Well, as you are growing reasonable, I don’t mind. Tlere, fill up your glass, and I will do the same. That’s it. Now I am ready to listen.” ** Well, then, George, 1 have some plans on hand which, if they can only be realized, would be sufficient to make the fortunes of teu men.” ‘Have you really, guv’ner?” said the son, becoming much interested in his parent’s conversation. ‘“T have, but alone my task will be beset with 4iffi- culties and dangers. If, however, you understand, I could fiud some one in whom [ could place the most im- plicit confidence, and who woulkl act precisely as I should myself, [ should be spared all this, and the accomplishment of my aims would be comparatively casy.” “Ts that a fact, guv’ner?”’ ° a !”? pepeated Wild; ‘* of course it is.” a bargain of it. I am yourman. Why, dam’me, where could you find a better P”’ “Do not think Iam so anmious to make friends with you, because 1 am not, and, under any other circumstances than the present, I should refuse to do so.” “ Forget the past.” 4 J I a eS FP = a i a Ry SS GS EH GH. hen tip us your flipper, old man, and we will make Ly, | ““Make you mind quite easy abont that. Iam wiser than I was, and I can see now that I shall do best by rowing in the same boat with you.” ‘You would find it so.” **T beheve I should. J have had my fling, and I shall be steady enough for the rest of my hfe. Besides, I have had enongh of foreign countries. Give me London before all the world, Whit do you say, guv’ner P” ‘*Thero is no place like it to geton. But look here, George.” What?” “The result of one of my schemes, if things turn ont according to my wishes, will be that I shall retire from business.” Oh! what business P ” ‘‘The business I have so fong carried on.” * Fencing?” (i. e. receiving stolen goods). ce Yes,” “But how’s that ?” “ Well, for one thing, I am getting tired of it.” ** T should think so, by this time.” “* ] am indeed.” “Well?” *“T shall leave the place altogether. Now, George, you have been here before to-day. Don’t you think it would be worth something to become my successor ? ” ‘Of course it would.” ‘Very well, then. I give you the chance.” “Will you make the business over to me ?” “Yes, provided you give me your faithful services, and aid me to the best of your ability in the prosecution of every scheme.’ Tt’s a bargain, guy ner—it’s a bargain.” “You consent ?”’ “Of course.” “ And you will not betray me P’ “* Certainly not.” “ How far can I trnst you ??? *€ Wholly—entirely.” * T hope I shall be able to do so, George. Ah! itwasa thousand pities you went off in the way youdid. You sce I can’t help being distrustful.of you. And if you had only kept by me all the time, who could say what we might not have accomplished.” * Very true. But I consider you have done pretty well as it is.’ **T have.” * You admit that?” “Yes, but what have you done ? ** Nothing.” ** Except squander money.” “ Ah! just so. I can assure you I have done that, to rights.” ‘“‘ Ts it possible, George 2”? asked Wild again, for the thief-taker himself was very careful of his money, ‘is it possible that you have spent all ?”’ cc All { 49 ‘* Every fraction P” ‘* Every fraction; and at this present moment I have not the smallest coin in my pocket.” “You must reform,” said the thief-taker, relapsing into his usual gloom of mind. “ I amafraid to trust you, even now.” ‘Don’t say that, guv’ner. You give me a trial, and if I don’t act fair and square, why, I give you leave to pistol me upon the spot.” “Oh! George, could I but feel convinced that I had some one I could trust as well as I could trust myself— if I could only feel assured of that, I should not care.” ‘You easily might, guv’ner. I don’t mean to go onthe cross with you any more.” ‘You have shaken my confidenca.” “T know it.” ** And confidence once shaken ”—— “T know what you mean, old man. Lor’ bless you, I aven’t scattered your cash without having something taught me in return.” ‘*T suppose not,” said Jonathan, bitterly. ** Don’t take on.” “Curses !” “The money is gone. You have made more, and, by what you say, you are about to add considerably to the “I willingly would if I could be assured of your good | amount; so what have you to grumble about ?” coudyet in the future.” nn Leave that point, Gcorge, and listen to me.” we EO DOO C SS} o(CO) 5}