Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: September 6, 2025
"He is," replied a portly personage, arrayed in a gorgeous yellow brocade dressing-gown, lined with cherry-coloured satin, and having a crimson velvet cap, surmounted by a gold tassel, on his head. "My name is Kneebone," added the portly personage, stepping forward. "What do you want with me?" "A word in private," replied the other. "Stand aside, Tom," commanded Kneebone.
"Friends!" echoed Kneebone, with a look of dismay. "My invitation did not extend to them." Further remonstrance, however, was cut short by the sudden entrance of Mrs. Maggot and Edgeworth Bess. Behind them stalked Blueskin, enveloped in a rough great-coat, called appropriately enough in this instance, a wrap-rascal.
They twitched, as a dry cackle of laughter broke out. "Kut Sing, ahoy!" shouted Heywood. "On deck! Kneebone!" The shoes whipped inboard. Outboard popped a ruddy little face, set in the green circle of a topi, and contorted with laughter. "Listen to this, will ye!" cried the apparition, as though illustrating a point.
"In the name of your lamented parent, whose memory I shall for ever revere, I implore you to answer me," urged Kneebone, "why why would you not accept him?" "Because our positions are different," replied Winifred, who could not resist this appeal to her feelings. "You are a paragon of prudence and discretion," rejoined the woollen-draper, drawing his chair closer to hers.
"A good deal has occurred since then, eh, Captain!" said Blueskin, nudging Jack. "Much that I would willingly forget. Nothing that I desire to remember," replied Sheppard, sternly. "On that night, in this room, in your presence, Blueskin, in yours Mr. Kneebone, Mrs. Wood struck me a blow which made me a robber." "She has paid dearly for it," muttered Blueskin. "She has," rejoined Sheppard.
"With pleasure, Sir," replied Edgeworth Bess. "Dear me!" she added, as she pledged the amorous woollen-draper, "what a beautiful ring that is." "Do you think so?" replied Kneebone, taking it off, and placing it on her finger, which he took the opportunity of kissing at the same time; "wear it for my sake."
"It would avail him little if he did," replied Kneebone. "Jonathan does what he pleases in the courts." "Very true," chuckled Jackson; "very true." "Blueskin's only chance would be to carry his threat into effect," pursued the woollen-draper. "Aha!" exclaimed Jackson. "He threatens, does he?"
"Nothing more than this," answered Kneebone, "that after the failure of his projects, and the downfall of his party, he retired to his seat, Ashton Hall, near Manchester, and has remained there ever since, entirely secluded from the world." The stranger was for a moment lost in reflection.
"Now for it!" cried Jack, as the couple entered the room: "the coast's clear." Thames was about to follow, when he felt a gentle grasp upon his arm. He turned, and beheld Winifred. "Where are you going?" she asked. "I shall be back presently," replied Thames, evasively. "Don't go, I beg of you!" she implored. "You're in danger. I overheard what Mr. Kneebone said, just now."
"In my opinion," remarked Kneebone, "it doesn't matter how soon society is rid of two such scoundrels; and if Blueskin dies by the rope, and Jonathan by the hand of violence, they'll meet the fate they merit. Wild was formerly an agent to the Jacobite party, but, on the offer of a bribe from the opposite faction, he unhesitatingly deserted and betrayed his old employers.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking