Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

~ emg ee SSR PR, a i en a ee 50 “MLUESKIN ; > a ee EE TS, — TR eras A ROMANCE. NS I AEE i 1G =O agence RNP Jack Sheppard, too! Dy what chance is he mixed up in it? I mu:t nestion him wheu he returns, and Jearn all from him, a: well as where the girl is at the present moment. Thi; will be another good day, I can see.”’ Tap—tap. “‘ More visitors,” said Wild, as he twitched his wig over his eyez. “ More grist tothe mill. Ha! ha!” This time is was Lord Ingestrie. He looked pale and anxious. He had had some difii- culty in raising the money Wild demanded for the restora- tion of the necklace. ** You don’t look well, my lord,” said Jonathan. “Iam afraid you have been worrying yourself about the necklace. It was quite unnecessary, I can assure you.” No, no. It is not that. to get the money.” ‘* Indeed.” “Yes. But I have managed it. you succeeded P”’ “‘ Indifferently well, my lord, indifferently well. My men found out indirectly who had it, and made overtures for its return.” ‘* And the result P ” ‘* Well, my lord, the result is not quite as I expected. It must have got wind that your lordship set an intrinsic value upon it, for they are more extortionate than I thought they would he.” And now, how have ‘Then never mind. It must go.” ‘* Indeed.” “Yes. I have already had the utmost diffieulty in getting together so large a sum. Iam sorry I troubled you at all in the affair.”’ “Oh! pray don’t mention that. My trouble has been nothing, as 1 may say, but what it has been your lordship 1s heartily welcome to.” ‘* And now, just for curiosity, what does the miscreant ar’: for restoring the stolen article?’ I mean how much money.” ** Just so.” “How much is it ?” ‘Three thousand five hundred guineas! ”’ “Three thousand ”’ “ Five hundred.”’ “Why, you said at first, offer four thousand.” “TI know I did, but your lordship thought that rather uureasonable, and it was afterwards settled at three.” “So it was; but I had, nevertheless, counted upou four, aud that is the sum I have raised.” “Then,” said Wild, who had the greatest possible diffi- culty in concealing his exultation, “ do you feel inclined to give the amount named ?”’ ‘* I certainly don’t feel inclined, but still ?—— “You would not like such a thing to go out of your possession ?”’ ‘I should not, Mr. Wild, and that is just it.” “Then the better way for you will be to give the money.” “ And can’t I bring the fellow to law ?” “Oh! impossible!” ** How so?” * T don’t know who he is.” ' an your man, who has managed the business so or! “Has not seen the actual person, but a go-between.” How confoundodly cautious)” “It is necessary to be so, my lord, when you have a nooze dangling over your head.” “Of course, of course.” ‘*T told my man to offer the three thousand, but as that offer was not accepted, and five hundred more asked, I could not do anything until I bad seeu you.” ** No, no.” “For I did not know whether you would be willing to give that amount.” “I suppose it must be so,” said Lord Ingestrie, with a sigh, as he drew forth a plethoric pocket-book, and began counting out some notes. *{° vexatious,” said Wild, sympathizingly, ‘“‘ to have to part with so large an amount to get back one’s own property, is it not?” It is the trouble I have had | ue ust count those, then; I think you will find them all night.” e “The are quite right,’ said Wild, who rapidly counted the notes, “‘and now about your lordship’s watch ?” “ Ah! where is that P”’ “T have no idea; I cannot get the least trace of it. But make your mind easy about that; I will get it back for you sooner or later.” ‘“*T am glad to have such an assurance. And now, Mr. | Wild, in spite of your deprecation of your trouble you must have had a good deal, and the business cannot have been managed without putting you to some expense. Now what is your charge for all this.” “* Nothing.” ‘* Nothing P” “ Nothing!” repeated Wild, emphatically. “But did I not understand you to say that the three thousand five hundred pounds was the exact amount you would have to give P”’ ‘* Such is the case.” * Then how are you to be paid P” “Oh! I have my salary as a chief police-officer.”’ ‘** Tam aware of that, but it is always usual for something extra to be charged.” ** TI know that, but my sole desire is to serve your lord- ship. I very much regret you should have to pay anything at all, and I could not think of taking anything from you myself.” “Tut, tut!’ said Lord Ingestrie, who was completely deceived by Wild’s apparent magnanimity. “ Tut, tut! I can’t allow you to have all your trouble for nothing.” ‘* Of course,” said Wild, with a hypocritical whine, “ it would be rude and ungrateful on my part were I to refuse to accept anything your lordship might be pleased to give me in recognition of my services.”’ “To be sure it would. Now what shall it be?”’ “Oh! my lord, I could not think of naming anything for a moment. That I must leave entirely with you. You may rest assured that I shall be completely satisfied with anything that your lordship may be pleased to give m 2) “But I hardly know how to estimate your services. Beyond the bare fact of knowing that you have found out the stealer of the bracelet, and arranged with him to return it for a certain sum, I know nothing. However, I shall be very glad if you will accept of this fifty pound note.” ‘You are too munificent,”’ said Wild, “‘ by far too muni- ficent.”’ “Not at all. I would a thousand times rather give any amount of money away than I would have it extorted from me.” ee And so would I, and so of course would everyone else.” “That, then, is settled. And now, Mr. Wild, how about the necklace ?” “Well, you can either meet the person who 1s to give it up, or you can come here for it, whichever you like best. I should prefer the former.” “Why, Mr. Wild?” “Oh! for no very particular reason, except that you ywould see that I had represented things to you just as they actually are.” “1 do not doubt you for a moment, and if you will allow me I will in preference call here for the neck- lace.”’ ** As you like, my lord.” ‘** You can meet this intermediate party and get it back. To tell you the truth, I have no desire to face them.” ‘Perhaps it is best not. They are always on the look out for treachery.” ** I suppose so, and therefore I will cail here, and receive it from you. When shall I come?” “To-morrow morning at this time, if you please, my lord. J hope you will accept of my thanks for the liberal, very liberal present you have made me, and beheve that I shall be always grateful.” ‘“*Say no more,’’ said Ingestrie, as he prepared to quit Wild’s office. ‘‘ Your behaviour throughout the whole ot “You are right, it is; I feel it. I suppose, thougn, | this affair has been praiseworthy in the extreme.”’ there is no choice in tho matter.” Done at all.” ‘Tam not a little delighted,” said Wild, “that I should have been fortunate enough to win the good opinion of OQ (O) (S) CONIC