Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 377: what you’re looking at

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

en st ee beg a A eeeeeeeeeeereerrreeeeooe » : BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. 875 matter imaginable. Jf yon fill yourself up with suzha| “A young girl?” notion, you are doomed to certain disappointment.” “ Yes.” © Who are they, then?” * What abont her?” “Men of no common kind, or all my previous efaris | “ It is virtually essential to my plans that I should get would not have been unavailing. Do you think I Inck | possession of her.” expcrience in these matters ? With this solitary exception, | ‘*‘ And they refuse ?” have I ever had any difficulty in achieving my desires ?” Yes.” *T don’t know that ever you have had much trouble,} ‘* Does the girl refuse ? ” v ner.”’ ; Yes.” “Very well, then, what does it argue when act my{ “ Guv’ner, yon are playing some deep, artful game, but efforts against these have been unavailing ? Does it not} 1 shall find it all ont.” argue that there is something peculiar connected with| ‘ You shall know all in good time.” them which there never has been with the others? so} ‘* And what is tls girl?” don’t make the mistake of thinking yon are goiny todo) ‘' That doesn’t matter. Sheis with Jack Sheppard and -easily what I have failed to do.” | Blueskin.” “ll have a try, guv’ner, and if I do succeed I sball| ‘* Yes. What’s her name?” make you hide your head for shame. But come, it is{ ‘“ Her name?” quite time you told me something about them. Whoare| ‘“ Yes.” they?” ** Her name is—is—Edeworth Bess.” Jne, at any rate,” replied Wild, “is well known to a .. | Edgworth Bess, 1s it?” ou.’ es. “Who is he?” “That's @ rummy name, guv ner. What do you want ** Ye was formerly in my service, and I trusted him | the girl for?” with everything.” ** Never mind at present.” ** Now he has turned against you.” Oh! very well. Now, then, when do you think of ** Yes,” setting off in pursuit of these three. Have you any idea That's infernally awkward, guv’ner.” where they are?” ** Tt is.” “At this present moment I have no idea whatever ** Does he know much ?” where they are.” “* By far too much for it to be safe for him to livemy]| ‘‘How’s that?” enemy.” : But ina little while I expect to receive some intelli- ‘*Tsee. But who is he?” gence. “He used to be second to myself, and have charge of | ‘‘ From whom?” all affairs when I happened to be out of the way.” | ‘*J have spies in all parts of London, and as soon as the “What, Blneskin ? ”’ [three are seen by any one of them, I shall be at once **'You recollect him, then.” communicated with.” * Ts that bim ? ” Oh! that’s it.” Yes.” * Then, when I know with eertainty where they are, Wild junior thrast his hands into his trousers pockets, | I’””——~ and gave a low whistle. At this moment there came a faint tapping at the door ** Guv’ner.”’ of the room. “What ?” “Come in!” roared Wild. * After trusting Blueskin with all your secrets inthe| Wilkinson entered. way you did, you ought to have kept in with him.” “Tf you please, sir’’?——= ** But, how if I couldn’t ?”’ What, villain?” “Why, of course, if you couldn’t you couldn’t.” ‘A man has brought this for you.” Then I couldn’t. I know what policy is as wellas| Jonathan held out his hand. most people.” Wilkinson put into ita dirty piece of card. *T daresay you do, guv’ner, but it makes things very| It seemed by its appearance to be an ordinary playing awkward that does, and, besides, I know what Blueskin j card. is before to-day. He is all very well for a friend, but a] Aud such, indeed, it was. devil for an enemy.” It was one out of a pack, and-on its centre was painted **'You are meht. Well that is one of the foes I have | a diamond. to contend with, and whose destruction I have sworn to} It was the ace of diamonds. acconiplish.” Jonathan understood the sign. Well, one comfort you have told me the worst first.” | i ;Jt was that which was given by any one of his spies. ** Don’t you make too sure of that.” It signified that one had called, and that he had intelhi- ‘The other couldn’t be worse than Blueskin, let him | gence to commuuicate. be whom he will.” ‘Ts the man downstairs who brought this, Wilkin- ** Wait till you know.” son?” © Whois he?” Yes, Mr. Wild.” * His name will not be familiar to you. Idon’tsuppose| “Then go and fetch him up here to me.” you have ever heard it before.” As soon as the door was closed, Wild junior said— ** Tet us hear it behind, then.” © What does all that mean, guv’ner ?” * Jack Sheppard.” ' “Tt means that I shall shortly learn something of thie * Ts that his namie ?” : three persous I was speaking about.” “Yes.” “So much the better,’ said George, rubbing his bands “ What of him ?” ° together. ‘“‘ He is the most daring aud desperate fellow that ever} ‘‘ He is one of the spies I have posted about, or a mes- existed. He has been twice confined in Newgate, and has | senger from oue of them, and we shall learn whereabouts twice broken ont.” they are, no doubt.” ‘“You have got two desperate chaps to deal w'th, I Again came the tapping at the door. ee.” In auswer to Wild’s command to enter, Wilkinson ‘Thave. I tell you, all that I have tried agairat thera | came in, ushering in rather a rough-looking specimen of has utterly failed.” humanity. T will try what I can do, guv’ner. You won’ daunt| He touched his forehead in a respectful manner to me. Seeif I don’t prove a match for them.” Wild, and waited to be spoken to. “ When once those two fellows are out of the wav, all{ Jc..athan made a sign for Wilkinson to leave the room. the rest that I have to do will be done readily enough,{ O! course the janizary vanished instantly. « but, while they remain, I shall have no end of diffienity 6 Now,” said the thief-taker, turning to the man, ~ you in my path.” have brought this card, have you uot?” They niust be removed, then, if that is the cese.”’ “Yes, Mr. Wild.” 5h oF _ “TF must also tell you, George, that they huve with “Then just tell your news in as few words as possible. » Caen @ young gitl.” — ranean ay t of | ¢ ™ UC) EO LOAO@ ( SS (SO) 5}