Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

rE ee tian cee have done. I thonght at last I would go over and inquire whether you really had left. Tonks was on the lock, so I asked him. He told me you had been gone more than a eouple of hours.” The villain !”’ *‘Wild had no doubt told him to give that answer to anyone who might inquire for you. I was far frem satis- fied. I went to the § Black Lion,’ and found you had not heen there. Then some suspicion of the truth entered my mind.” ** I suppose so.” ** However, I was rather at a loss how to act, for I did not know who was in the most danger, you er Edgworth Bess; but I reasoned thus: you were better able to defend yourself than she was, and so I made up my mind to find her some secure place of retreat, where she would run no risk of pane found by Wild, and then turn my attention to you, for I made up my mind that you should suffer no injury at the hands of Wild.” ‘Thanks for that. It shows you are a friend.” Blueskin took no notice, but went on. * While peeing about for a place, this old abbey. came into my mind. I did not decide upon it all at once, but thought of several other places. Inthe end, however, I decided upon this. ** So far, of course, all was quite right, except that I had only Geoffery’s word for such a place being in existence. Bess I knew would be safe for a few hours longer where she then was. So I mounted and rode here to see whether all was as had been represented to me.”’ ** I begin to see now.” “Of course you do. Although then I had my doubts, yet I felt pretty sure that T should find things just as he described them. Still, as there was a doubt, I thought it would be impolitic to take Bess away from the ‘ Black Lion’ until I had satisfied myself, as, by so doing, I might perhaps be taking her into unnecessary danger.” “You were thoughtful.” ** No harm, I considered, would ensue if I took down with me a good stock of provisions, so I did so. Came here—found the place as you see it now, and stowed tire provender into the cupboard.” ‘Capital. Really, the more I hear the more indebted 1 become to you.” *¢ Just stir the fire and listen. I turned back to London. The first place I went to was Drury-lane. Johnson was standing at the door. I asked whether Bess was all mght, and on telling me she was, I went without delay to Newgate-street.”’ e were indefatigable. And you did all this for me 4) . “ Partly for you, partly for her. For the pair of you I would gladly do ten times as much. It wasearly morning when I reached Wild’s house: in fact, about an hour before dawn. I found the place in the utmost confusion. Joe White had been killed by a blow on the head, and two prisoners had escaped. I soon found they were you and some other person.” ‘Sir Marmaduke Osborn.” ** Wild was furious, and out somewhere, as they sup- posed, in search of you. As this was several hours after you had made your escape I felt pretty sure that you had got clear off. At all events I did not see how I was to be of service to you, so I went to bed, for I was utterly worn out.” ** I should think you were.” **I do not beheve I could have kept up an hour lounger. I went to bed then, and never awoke until about an hour before you saw me.” ** Indeed ; what did you do?”’ “1 learned Wild had come home. I felt that you and him and Bess yonder would be enemies tothe death. I could not serve both, so I followed my inclination and sided with you.” * And you will ?” To the last day of my life. Jonathan and myself are vow as great enemies as you and heare. The interview T had with him was a rather stormy one, and he made an attack upon my life. In the brief struggle that ensued, = I proved myself the Stronger, for he was badly Jack laughed. *““ [left my mark, I kmow.” “ It was you then that had mauled him so, wasit? Never Having succeeded so far SS BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. nn ee eee an nner cy yy, 87 mind, I got off all safe, and arrived at the ‘ Black Lion’ just in time te save you.” “You did, indeed. Without your interposition we should both have been inmates of Wild’s house.” ** Not a doubt; and now you know all.” ** Not all,” said Edgworth Bess, quietly, who had never uttered a word during the explanation, “not all. You promised to speak to me of—of—my father !”’ CHAPTER LIX. IN WHICH BLUESKIN RELATES THE STORY OF HIS LIFE, AND ADVISES EDGWORTH BESS TO PURSUE A PARTI- CULAR MODE OF ACTION. So you did, Blueskin,” said Jack Sheppard, “so you did. J, too, am full of anxiety to know that. I will tell you my adventures afterwards.” A. remarkable change came over the face of Joe Blake, but this circumstance only inflamed Jack’s desire. ** At last,” he thought, * I am geing to hear that which he has before so resolutely refused to tell me.”’ Blueskin spoke, and both the young people became eagerly attentive to the words he uttered. ‘TI have already told you the name of your unnatural uncle. Itis Lord Donmull, but the title, like the estates, is not lawfully his, although he has so long held possession of them.” ** But be shan’t much longer,” said Jack, impetuously. “My whole energies shall be employed in wresting his ill-gotten gains from him.” “It is rather singular, but [ have to tell you both about your fathers. remember them.” Upon hearing these words Jack trembled violently; then, starting to his feet, he stood by Blueskin’s side and whis- pered in his ear,— ** When you speak of my father do not allude to—to”— He could not cempletethe sentence. “ Hisignominious fate,’ he would have said. “Tt understand,” said Blueskin, “‘ don’t be afraid; I would not speak of it before her for the world.” That is well.” Jack, whose mind was now at ease, reseated himself. Edgwerth Bess looked at beth with great surprise, but to Jack’s relief said nothing. ** They are two rather singular things,” continued Blue- skin. “However, you must know about twenty-two years age, Jack’s father—Tom Sheppard his name was—and myself were in the‘employ of Lord Donmull— not the preseut lord—his brother.”’ “My father?” said Edgworth Bess. “Just so. J was at that time eighteen ; Tom Sheppard four years older; that is, twenty-two. The situations we relatively occupied were coachman and valet. Tom was the former, I was the latter.” ** Indeed.” ** A very great friendship subsisted between us, and had done for years. Our master was a kind and indulgent one, and the place was everything we could wish. *¢ It was soon after this that your father, Jack, married, and in less than a twelvemonth after that our master marned too. * There were grand rejoicings on the occasion, of course, and none entered into them with apparently greater zest than master’s only brother, Abel.” “The one who is now lord ?”’ ** Yes.” *€ Go on—go on.” The narrative was one that made them feverishly im- patient to hear the sequel. Already the dire domestic tragedy was shadowed forth before them. *“ All went well, and then, Jack, you were bern. Two years afterwards she who now sits by your side came into the world. Just before the accouchment I happened to catch a glimpse of Mr. Abel, for so he was called, as lic came out of the hbrary. His aspect frightened me. * Still, at that time I did not cennect the two events at all, though I afterwards had good cause todo so. *€ I know that it was master’s hope that the child about t6 be born should prove a boy, but in this he was dis- appointed. It was a girl. ** But whatever regrets he might have felt upon thie account were quickly banished by the alarm, the serious matin Strange, too, neither of you can ~~ oS Vesee Seema. ame eur EO DOO C SS (SO) 5}