Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

8 IVAN THE moment. She simply glanced at the stranger, and a tremor of horror and abhorrence passed through her frame. “ That is the wretch !” she calmly said, and sobbed aloud. A growl as of some caged tiger fell upon the ears of all present | At that moment, so great was his rage at the discovery of the miscreant, the enraged colonel burst open the wardrobe door and bounded towards his enemy ! “Villain |’? he cried, and struck Count Vincento a terrible blow in the face. The colonel’s action was so precipitous that it fully discon- certed the doctor and landlord’s plans. The blow would have been followed by another but the count, smiling like a demon, wiped a few spots of blood from his lips, and, leaving the room, said jeeringly, “Follow me!” The doctor and landlord could not comprehend that the colonel would honour the ruffian with a personal encounter. They were stupefied therefore with surprise when the colonel ordered a hackney coach, and swore that he would have instant revenge. : By this time Darby had arrived with his hackney coach. “ Here, Darby, quick !’’ Harry exclaimed. At that moment he jumped into the coach, and hurriedly said to the astonished coachman, ‘“ Drive as fast as you can after those two hackney coaches that haye just left the stable-yard.” For it should be explained that Colonel Ashton’s rage had become so unmanageable and fierce that he had accepted all conditions of Count Vincento’s challenge, and had started off alone to the field of combat, even without a surgeon, second or a witness. _ Count Vincento, however, if we may so call that noted rc )ber and one of Ivan the Terrible’s followers, had been more fortunate, for he had prevailed upon two gentlemen to accompany and second him, as he said, “in an affair of honour with a famous old idiot, with whose daughter he had - been a little too gallant on a long journey.” Tis needless to say that hat the two gentlemen known the true character of the imposter with whom they were riding, the count would have had to meet more than the old colonel in mortal combat, Be that as it may, the three hackney coaches drove towards Hyde Park, and arrived there just at sunrise. The coaches stopped beneath a group of trees inside the park, Count Vincento and his two friends proceeded to a small group of trees, and were laughing and chatting quite merrily and thoughtlessly. ‘Oh, this is not the fist time, I can assure you,” said Count Vincento, with an air of much indifference, “‘I have had several affairs of this kind. With the pistol I have few equals, with the sword no one can touch me !” The old colonel perceived that Harry had followed him, and they stood talking to each other beneath a tree. “Tf I am killed, young Mr. Percy, give this ring to my dear, darling Lizzie; it was her mother’s gift tome. Iam rich, and all will fall to her, but, if you can, be a friend to her through life; one who has already jeopardized his own life for her is far above all other worldly relations to me.” So saying he pressed Harry’s hand several times. One of Count Vincento’s seconds approached the colonel. “You have no friend present, colonel,” he said, politely bowing. . The colonel reddened up to the temples as he remarked confusedly, ‘Ab! in the hurry I forgot, will do me that honour?’ The rival second for a moment looked with pity, if not con- tempt, upon Harry, who, however, said, in a manly manner, ‘‘ Anything you desire, my dear colonel.” Before Harry left the colonel’s side the old man, said, “If I fall, Harry Percy, do not tell Lizzie of it for some time, it would break her heart; she is the only child I ever nag, and God, knows I love her more than all the world besides” In a few moments every preliminary was arranged, Perhaps young Percy here TERRIBLE. It was agreed that they should fight with pistols at fifteen aces. : : The weapons were loaded and handed to the combatants. They took their distance. One of the seconds, after a given signal, dropped a white handkerchief, ; ‘Two reports were simultaneously heard. . One is seen to-fall ! a The other stands bolt upright in his original position. The first is stretched, a gory corpse, upon the green sward | ’ Harry rushes forward in grief and alarm. Colonel Ashton is dead ! ; One of the count’s seconds, having examined the colonel’s fatal wound, walked across the sward, and highly compli- mented his principal’s skill. ‘“ Right through the heart, Count! You are a most skilful shot! Allow me to compliment you upon your extraordinary ability !” “Yes,” said the Count, with a triumphant smile, adding, with a chuckle, “I ought to know something of the use ot weapons considering that I am one of my friend Ivan’s favourite pupils.” ; “Tyan! Ivan! Who is he?” both his seconds asked, “I never heard of him.” ‘Indeed ! never even heard of my friend Ivan?” Count Vincento replied, with a coarse laugh; “never even heard of my friend Ivan? Well, well, you have something to learn, my dear and very obliging friends,” he said, with a con- temptuous smile of triumph. At that moment young Harry stood before the Count, and an angry altercation ensued. “Take this boy away, or I shall be necessitated to chastise his impudence and want of manners, If you were a mdn, now, like your late principal who lies yonder, amonument of his own folly, I should call you out.” ‘ “Call me out,” laughed Harry, boldly. “ You have no need to do that.. Iam here, ready and willing, to try conclusions with you in any way !” Count Vincento was full.of rage, and attempted to strike Harry. . The latter, however, evaded the blow, and, to the astonish- ment of all present, he tripped the Count full on the grass, After a stormy discussion, and many hard words on each side, Harry demanded satisfaction. ee “ Well, youngster, as you proudly call yourself a Percy, and as I should like to rid England ofa few of that famons family, produce your swords, and I will accommodate you.”’ There was an air of confidence in “Harry’s manner that strangely contrasted to the livid paleness and quivering lips of his tall and powerful opponent, “Well, then, if you, who are aman, powerful, strong, tall, and skilful, will not grant me the use of pistols, which would put both on an equality of distance and weapon, I accept swords, and trust my life, fortune and safety in the hands of Heaven,” This simple and heartfelt declaration was received with jeers by his opponent, who sarcastically asked, “ And who is your second, pray ?”’ asked the Count, with an ineffable smile of contempt. “J can find an honest man,” was the quick reply ; “ that is more than you can say, Darby, my groom, will do for me.” Darby, hearing his own namé mentioned, and supposing that he had to do alittle, stepped forward and rolled up his sleeves, ready to box any one there present. ‘But you have no swords?” Count Vincento replied, with a jeer, “ We shall be obliged to postpone this affair until to- morrow.” “Not exactly, sir,’ Harry laughingly replied, “ not even for one short half hour. There are weapons in my coach.” This announceinent filled Count Vincento with surprise. ‘‘T see you came prepared, then, boy,” hesaid, pulling off his coat, and rolling up his shirt sleeves. ‘T did as you observe,” he said, going to his coach, and pro- ducing the swords. ‘There they are, gentlemen,” he said, throwing them down at Count Vincento’s feet. ‘See that they are both of equal length,” comichooksseom