“Well, captain, I wish you may arrive safely back in London. Your horse is ready.”
“And you decline to return any answer?”
“Look ’ee here. If that young scoundrel comes in this neighbourhood he will very soon find himself in one of her Majesty’s prisons—so ’ee may tell him that from me. And now, if ye’ll take good advice, which I think it, just as well to offer ’ee, you’ll just mek yerself as scarce as possible, or maybe ’ee may find yerself as deep in the mud as he be in the mire.”
“I shall not condescend to have any further discourse with you,” said Bradley, assuming as high a tone as possible at parting. He went out into the yard, mounted his friend’s black horse, and directed Joe Doughty to take the portmanteau round to the “Carved Lion,” handing him half-a-crown for his trouble. He then trotted off, very much dissatisfied with his visit to Stoke Ferry Farm, which he considered to be a most miserable failure.
CHAPTER CXI.
THE SURPRISE AND ESCAPE—A DRIVE FOR LIFE.
Peace, after his encounter with Bessie Dalton, abstained for a short period from his predatory excursions.
The scene in the rich merchant’s house at Blackheath had made a deep impression on him, and it is just possible that he had some slight compunctious visitings; but these were of course of short duration.
His house in the Evalina-road was, as we have already intimated, exceedingly well furnished. On his removal from Greenwich a large amount of plate and a considerable collection of pictures were not transported openly in the van he hired to remove the rest of his goods; they were forwarded secretly from Greenwich to Peckham.
It was generally understood in the neighbourhood that he was a retired gentleman possessed of a modest competence, which enabled him to live quietly without business cares, and to indulge his little whims in scientific inventions, in which indulgence he had lost thousands.