Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

Ne at aaa aa etait” On re eee ee BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. wane ‘© T am all attention, guv’ner.” You must understand, theu, that I crave two main ! think of.” objects which influence my conduct.” George nodded. 2 ““T mean there are two objects which I hava set my | mind upon attaiuing.” “What are they?” “Tor one, wealth and rank.” ‘Wealth and rank ?” “Yes.” *€ But that’s two.” **T only count it one.” Very well, guv’ner, you won’t catch me finding fault with your arithmetic. Cut along.” © T shall grasp wealth and rank at once.” ‘ Rank ! Do you mean title.” ¢ The devil! But how are you to get that?” ** Never mind; that’s my business.” *€ Very well, guv’ner.”’ *“In gaining this one object you will not be of much assistance to me, except by devoting yourself to the busi- ness here while I am occupied with it.” “That will smt me very well.” Can I trust you ?” ** Now, it’s no good your asking that, and it’s less good for me to keep replying toit. All I can say is, try me.” ‘“*T have resolved to doso. To give you this one chance of redeeming yourself.” ‘‘That’sall [require, guv'ner. From this time forward you will fiud me everything that you could wish.” **T trust I shall. You could never know how much I have yearned for you to come hack and be a son to me, or indeed for any one that I could trust. But all have deserted me and turned enemies to me, and I am quite alone.” ** Are you, guv ner? It’s enough to draw tears from a workhonse official to hear you, that it is.” “Pshaw! You are too fond of folly.” Not a bit of it, guv’ner. Well, now that we have dis- posed of one of your motives, which I count two, and in which it seems I am not to render you any assistance, let us hear the other.”’ ‘Phat you can aid me in.” What is it.” * Revenge! ” ‘Oh! how vicious you speak, guv’ner.” “Revenge! that 1s my grand motive. revenged.” But on who, guv’ner ?” *¢ Those who have made it the business of their lives to interpose themselves between me and the prosecution otf my plans.” © Who are they ?” You shall hear presently.” ‘*Tam quite impatient, guv’ner. I should think they were rather daring chaps to set themselves up against you, eh?” “They are fools. George?” Yes, gnv’ner ?” “*T have sworn that they shall die at Tyburn.” < jolly good way of getting rid of them, I should think.’ “They shall swing.” ‘Oh! then you mean to try the old game, ch?” © What old game ?” ‘Why, you know well enough.” “But do your” ‘Of course I do.” 6 What is it?” **Give false evidence against them before the beaks, and have them cast for death—then scragged at Tyburn.”’ *¢ Exactly.”’ ‘It’s a good plan.” ‘“* I have ever found it answer except with these.” ** How is it it don’t answer with them, guv’ner ?” I must be 373 ‘‘Itis not. I have adopted all the precautions I could *¢ And did they fail?” ** Utterly.” “T can’t make that ont, guv’ner.” “Nor more can I.” ‘But I suppose all these little failures only serve to male you still more resolved to have your revenge ? ” ** Just se.” “Well, guv’ner, show me how I can help you, and 1 am ready to do the best I can.” “That is enough. You shall know more in good time.” * But, guv’ner.” “What?” * Just tell me one thing,” “ How many people are included in your revenge ?” ‘WoO, “Only two P” *“That’s all.” “Well, guv’ner, I wonder at you. Mind you, I don’t think half so much of you as I did once.” ** Why not ?” ‘To allow yourself to be troubled with two people. Why, they could be got rid of easy enough.” ‘You had better try it on.” ** Tam quite ready.” ** But one of them, let me tell you, has been twice con- fined in the strongest cell in Newgate, and so loaded with fetters that he could hardly move. Yet, on both those occasions, he made his escape.” ** Yes, and in defiance of all the precautions taken, and the watch which was kept upon him.” ‘You surprise me, guv’ner.” “ They are two men of no common kind, or they would | not have stood so long against me as they have.” **T suppose not.” “Curse them. Even this night, which has but just passed away, I had them securely in my grasp, but they eluded me.” ‘** How, guv'ner? ” “Never miud how. Suffice it they did.” * And got clear off ?” ** Yes,” ** Leaviug no clue behind ?” Yes.” ** They must be very clever fellows, guv’ner.” “They are clever. If they were only on my side in- stead of being opposed to it, they would be allies well worth having.’’ **T daresay it would make a difference to you, guv’ner. But you have not yet told me who they are.” **T know I have not.” ** But why don’t you?” -“ How can I tell how far you may be trusted?” ** Are you going to bring that up again ?” **T have had no proofs of your sincerity aud trustworthi- ness as yet.” ** T know you haven’t.” - But I have of your treachery.” ‘Now, guy ner, look here.” * What P” ‘fT am going to make a bargain with you, and I do hope you will keep it.” ‘What bargain ?”’ “ Why, never to rake up old sores. Wild nodded. ‘Tt have been a d—d fool, I know,” continued his son. “IT took your money and made off with it when I ought to have stopped with you, but, then, I knew no better. However, that is all past and done for, aud it won’t happer agaiu. So, guv’ner, just please to let the subject drop, a eo refer to 1t any more, because it can’t do any ood.” ‘Well, I won’t, George. forget the past. So we will let that rest, and put it Do you hear ?” I should be only too glad to “YT cannot tell. At various times T have had them in! down to one of the follies of youth, eh?” my cnstody—one has already been tried and sentences passed upon him, but I believe they have the devil to aid them, for they always make their escape.” *“ Make their escape ? ”’ ** Yes.” “I should think that is very easily provided agaiust, guy ner.” e *¢ Just as you like, guv’ner.” “Very well.” * Have you made up your mind to truest me ?” Wild hesitated. His son perceived it, so he said— ** Now, old man, just listen to me, and be good enough to condescend to take a few words of advice from me.” aE COIN C (SO) 5} DOO