Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

eee DSP (SPA aeRO STSSSSac DSSS fh," YEA SADE ogee ee Ue ta 40 BLUPSKIN: PT CaS, subject for him to commit his extortion upon, and, as we have seen, made hima prisoner. The price he set upon his release was that the whole of the estates belonging to Sir Marmaduke should be transferred to him. This, the conversation which we have recorded, suffi- ciently shows he had resolutely refused to do, and he languished a prisoner in that dark cell. Jonathan hoped he should tame him by resorting t¢ the same means as those which are employed to tam- brute pene bat up to now he bad failed to accomplish his end. Whether ultimately he did so or not will transpire in the course of the narrative. And during this time the wife uod family of Sir Man. maduke were plunged into the deepest distress and Juubt at his inexplicable disappearance ; for there was n thing by which they could trace him to his present abode. Observing that his prisoner still preserved his ':feles. attitude upon the floor, Jonathan jumped down from his seat, and made his way towards hin. At his approach, however, Sir Marmaduke shrunk eee slowly back, as he would before some furious animal, At last he reached the wall, and could He Jeaut himself against it, and fixe Wild’s face. For the life of him, Jonathan could not withstand that steadfast gaze. “ Are you going to add personal violence to what you have already done?” asked the prisoner. ‘ Have I not suffered enough at your hands? ” “‘ Comply with my demands,” replied Wild fiercely. ‘ I will not be set at nought by you any longer.” “I will never comply. A thousand times over, were such a thing possible, would I sacrifice my life rather than I would my possessions.” ‘‘ But I do not want your life. It 1s your estates, and I will have them, too. Besides, you seem to forget that if you are punished as a traitor your goods pass away from your family just the same, and are confiscated to the ‘rown,.”” ‘Villain! diabolical villain!”? murmured the prisoner, as this conviction was forced upon him. ‘ Surely there ve come a day when you will have to answer for all Is. “Ha! ba!” laughed Wild. ‘1 am perfectly willing to take the responsibility of answering for my actions.” “Time will show that—time will show that. Again, say, Jonathan Wild, do your worst. I care not.” ‘* T shall give you till to-morrow to decide.” “ R tis useless. You can take my answer now.? 6." “I say, yes.” “You don’t know. Not yet have you known the bitter- ness of starvation, but you shall know it. I say again I give you till to-morrow to decide. I shall come then, Sir Marmaduke, and I hope by that time you will see the wisdom of doing as 1 desire. If not, I shall at once bring you to trial, and then your fate is sealed. You shall die as a traitor an ignominious death, and the name of Osborn Shall be execrated in all fature generations. What you lave inherited shall be swept away from fhem. Thus not only do you destroy yourself, but you destroy them also.” Well was it for the safety of Jonathan Wild that his captive wa. so powerless as he was. His words excited him to frer-y, and had he been capable of it he would have made a desperate attempt upon the villain’s life But Wild kuew that he was safe. He waited for a reply. None came. ‘You are thinking over what I have said, I hope,” added Jonathan, after a pause of some moments. * Surely now you must see that it is best. Look, here is a deed trausferring your estates tome. It isa legal instrument drawn out to my instructions.” a ae spoke Jonathan took a folded paper from his pocket. ‘Sign this,” he said, unfolding it, “and you are a free man instantly. You huve yet strength to do it. Come.” Sir Marmaduke held out his hand for the paper. With a smile of cxultation Jonathan gave it to him. For a moment the unfortunate gentleman looked with fading vision at the paper. Tears filled his eyes. ge no further. his eyes upon by Ms ee Ottery Spe aii ned en. EE ay A ROMANCE. a Through the mist he fancied he could see his wife and children driven from their homes, wanderers upon the face of the earth, their name bearing the brand of infamy. That would be the result if he still persisted in refusing comphance with Wild’s demands. On the other, although his possessions would pass away from Lim, yet he would remain. Disgrace would not affix its stigma to his name. He would be able to exert himself for théir maintenance, which he was certainly better quali- fied to do than they. He wavered. Jonathan observed it, ana already congratulated himeelf upon the triumph he had achieved. But then the conviction of his own entire innocence urose in Sir Marmaduke’s mind, and though he knew that his judge would be prejudiced aginst him, yet he thought surely he would not,be suffered to perish. He determined not to barter away his birthright, but to trust himself to a trial. Then, to the contusion of Jonathan, his prisoner crushed up the paper which had been given him, and feebly threw it from him. ** Never—never,” he said. more do your worst.” With these words, a faint spasm convulsed the frame of the unfortunate knight, and, closing his eyes, he fell back- wards as thongh bereft of life. ‘**Confound him,’’ said Wild, as he stamped his foot. “*Confound him. But no mattter—no matter. I can wait. He has hesitated, and now I shall conquer.” He stooped down and shook Sir Marmaduke roughly, but he was quite unconscious. ‘Curse his contumacy! I never had so much trouble with any one before. Never mind ; 1t 1s worth my while. To-morrow I will visit him again, and doubt not that J shall succeed in bringing him to sign the paper. I will take it and put it back. How he has crumpled it, to be sure.” As he spoke, Wild picked up the paper, and carefully smoothing it out, put it back into his pocket. He scrambled then up the high steps into the passage beyond. : Then casting one more glance at the inanimate form o his prisoner, Jonathan closed the door and fastened it securely. This done, he retraced his steps, and, reaching the hall, again ascended the stairs. ‘ T am innocent. Once CHAPTER XXVII. JACK SHEPPARD AND BLUESKIN FIND 1 A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT MATTER TO LEAVE **TRE GRANGE” THAN THEY DID TO ENTER IT, THE strange adventures and proceedings of Jonathan Wild have now for some time occupied our attention, but as he is in no immediate danger we feel 1t an imperative duty to turn to two other characters, who were, and in whom we hope a greater interest is felt than there can be in the villainous thief-taker, whose conduct in the case of Sir Marmaduke nothing whatever could excuse. The two characters to whom we allude are, as the reader more than expects, Blueskin and Jack Sheppard. It will be remembered that we left them in a position of great peril. The servants, satisfied that something was wrong, bad crept back silently to the door of their master’s room and hstened. They heard the conversation which had passed between the two burglars, and bad therefore little difficulty at arriving at the facts of the case. With a boldness for which they deserved commendation they resolved to lay in wait at the door, and as the two midnight intruders passed out pounce upon them at unawares. One of their number, too, they sent to obtain additional assistance. It was only for a second that Blueskin lost his presence of mind. ae ropping the lantern which he held in his tiand he clenched both fists, and struck ont at his foes. But they were many to contend against. Very soon, however, they found they were getting the wors' of it. As for Jack, he had not been molested. As Bluesku. a ee eee MICOOOKS.CO (SO)