Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 376: what you’re looking at

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a eee O74 BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. ee SS ener eS aS ‘©T am listening.” absent I shall want you to go into the office and do the “Tf you are going to make a confidant of me, don’t 4o | business there instead of me.” it by halves. ‘T'ell me all or none.” Wild glared fiercely at the speaker. “Tell you all?” he said. “ Why not, guv’ner ?” You know not what you ask?” oo “Veg I do, old man. I give you my word to identify myself with your interests—to do everything zx you just the same as you wonld doit yourself. Now, as f undertake to do that, it must stand to sense that for me to be any service to you, I must know all; you must tell me all your plans—in fact, everything. Then, when we are leagued together like that, what is there that we could not accomplish ?”’ 2 ee CHAPTER CCL. JONATHAN WILD RECEIVES UNEXPLCTED INTELLIGENCE OF TIIE FUGITIVES, AND SETS OUT ON IIIS SECOND CRUSADE AGAINST THEM. JoNATHAN WILD pat bis elbows on the table, and resting his chin in the palms of his hands, looked stedfastly in the face of his son. But that exemplary individual bore the scrutiny without changing couutenance in the least. | It is possible that he was quite sincere in all lis pro- testations. ‘We could accomplish anything under snch favourable circuumstances as those you mention,” said Jonathan, after a pause. ‘That is what 1 say, too.” But eannot you see what risk I run in taking you so much into my confidence P”’ ‘¢T daresay there does seem a risk.” “Then do not wonder that I hesitate.” “You are a cantions old file, guv’ner.”’ “JT have every need of caution.” ‘But come, what do you say? You had better make good terms with me while Iam in the humour to serve ou.” ue George, you can’t mince the matter. Yon don’t come to me first, as yon might have come. I have cause to suspect you, and therefore you ought not to wouder at me if I hesitate to take you fully into my confidenee. But I will tell you what I will do, and I consider it a very fiir arrangement.” ‘Let us hear it, guv’ner.” You shall remain with mea little while, making your- self as useful as you ean. Do you understand P” “Yes; fo on.” ‘By your behaviour and gencral comportment I shall be able to judge you. I shall, indeed, use it as my sole ruide. If you go on square, and show yourself worthy to be trusted, then I shall be very glad to trust you.” “Those are fairish terms, guv’ner, and I cousent to them.” * T do, and I only bope you will stick to your part of the bargain as well as I shall stick to mine.” “You may depend I shall stick to my part, George, because it would so much advantage me if I could have some one I could trust. It is what I have wanted all along, in order to bring my schemes to a successful issue.’ “Well don’t grumble guv’ner, for you have now got to your hand jnst what you require. It, however, yea mean to try me first, I have no objcction in the world, bat mark my, words if you don’t find me everything you could wish. *¢T don’t like those who profess too much,” said Wiid, significantly. “Nor J, guv’ner. “7 will.” ‘¢ Give us your hand on that bargain, guv’ner, and we'll have another dram together.” Jonathan held out his hand, which his son took with every appearance of sincerity. Their glasses were then filled and empticd. Wild, junior, spoke again. * Now, guv ner, as all is so satisfactorily arranged, just tell mo what J have got to do next.” “Nothing particular. In the daytime when I am Therefore I say, try.” Tv SS *¢ That's all right, then, for you know very well I under- stand all abont that.” ** You have transacted it before.” ** And dene it well, too, I flatter myself.” “ Well, then, that will be the chief of your business,” “Very good, then. J have something to say.” ay on.’ ** If [ take the office business entirely off your hands, and transact the business perfectly to your satisfaction, shall yon be satisfied ? ”’ ‘* Perfectly satisfied.” “If I do nothing else?” ‘** Yes, if yon do nothing else.” “Then, guv’ner, I undertake it, and in return, to show you I know how to be grateful, 11 tell you what V’ll do for you in addition.” “What?” “Tf you will tell me the names of the two persons who have been snch a trouble to you, and who you want to be revenged upon, I’]l be after them like a bloodhound, and what's more, l’ll have them, or 1’ know no rest till I 0. Jonathan looked at the speaker with gleaming eyes. ** Do that,” he said, ‘‘and then you will indeed prove yourself to be my son. Do that, and what has happened In the past shall never enter my mind again.” ** T will do it, guv’ner.” ‘There is nothing which would give me so much pleasure as that.” “Tam glad my offer has pleased you.” “Tt has pleased me more than any other which you could have made.” “Bravo, guv’ ner. Come, who are they ?” ‘These two people?” “Yes, these enemies of yours you would so like to sce at Tyburn.” m I shall see them there, sooner or later, do not doubt that.’ *€ You will, Pll promise that, and before you are many days older.” onathan looked at his son with admiration. wan fancied he could detect some of his owu nature in im. And so tliere was. He inherited all the bad qualities of his father, without any of the good ones. It may be asked, what good qualities did Jonathan Wild possess P Not many, certainly, but at any rate, he was better than lls son. That worthy was vindictive and cruel to a degree. Nothing would have pleased him more than to hunt down some one for the mere fun of the thing. But when ho had got some great end to gain he could devote himself to it heart and soul, and with an energy untiring and almost superhuman. Tremble, Jack. Tremble, Blueskin. Not only for your own sakes, but also for the sake of the young girl of whom you are the sole protectors and defenders, for an enemy more deadly, more unscrupulous, aud more terrible than J onetae Wild himself is about to be let loose upon your track! Hfitherto it has beeu a hard, hard struggle to preserve life and Hberty so far, but now that the thiet-taker has received so powerful au adjunct, we cannot but fear the worst. We must not, however, forestal the proper current of events, but patiently reveal, with all succinctness possible, the strange incidents which occurred. Where could they look for such an accession of strength to their cause? Where could they hope to find so power- ful an ally as Jonathan Wild had found in the person of his son? “Who are they?” asked this hopeful individual again. “Give me some particulars about them, and a fall peserip ioe: Rely upon it they will not trouble yon much onger.” Jonathan shook his head. You thiuk too lightly of this affuir,’’ he said, ** by far too ligutly. You must not delnde yourself with the idea that the accomplishment of their capture is the easiest You will fiud it no idle boast. 5 ee GOnnlGoaoo C SS} 5(CO) >