Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE The old earl’s friends, finding that they were now amply succoured, sallied out from the great entrance hall with deaf- ening cheers. . Ivan and his men fought with the fierceness of desperadoes ; but ere long they were beaten off from the place, leaving several dead and dying behind them, One was secured, alive and unhurt, by Darby, Tt was Master Andy ! He lay gasping on the ground. “Move but an inch,” said the bold Darby, “speak but a word, and I’}] cut your ugly head off!” He held Andy to the ground as firmly as if transfixed with skewers of cast steel. Andy groaned and was almost saffocated. Darby knelt upon the ruffian’s broad chest, dagger in hand, teady to plunge it into the villain’s heart, CHAPTER LXVI, THE SAFETY OF LADY LAURA AND LIZZIE—DARBY’S SUCCESS- FUL SEARCH AFTER JESSIE—THE DISCOMFITED KNIGHT —DARBY’S REWARD FOR HIS GALLANTRY. _ THE first thought of the old earl was to seek and bewail his daughter Laura. Harry searched everywhere for the fair young Lizzie, Neither of them could anywhere be found. ~ They were given up for lost. The servants and troopers now used every endeavour to subdue the flames. Harry and his father, axe in hand, battered at a small side door. ‘‘ Burst this in,” said Harry ; ‘we can then ascend to the _ house-top and extinguish the flames. With a right good will Briny Bob and Joe hacked away at the door. Its heavy iron fastenings for some time resisted their efforts, but at last the heavy old oak door fell from its rusty hinges with a loud crash. Briny and Joe started back with surprise. Inside the door stood two lovely girls, which for a moment thetwo apprentices mistook for angels or spirits, It was Laura and Lizzie! With a shout of joy and surprise the old earl rushed for- ward and clasped Laura in his arms, shedding tears of happi- ness. Harry at the same moment clasped Lizzie round the waist and carried her forth into the cool refreshing air! _ “‘ Thank heaven, you are saved !” sighed the earl, tenderly kissing Laura on the cheek. “Amen !’ said Harry, fervently. “But where is Je-sice? Where is she? Oh! say not that she has perished in the flames?” said Laura. “Ob, my poor faithful Jessie! Tell me, Harry, is she safe?” Harry held down his head, aud for a moment could not answer. He feared that such was really her awful fate but dared not say so. . At that moment the voice of Darby was heard shouting out loudly, : ; “Tell me, villain, on your life, where is Jessie, Lady Laura’s maid?” : Laura, Lizzie, Harry and the earl, together with Briny and Joe, were instantly attractel to the spot where the bold Darby had Andy upon the ground, and was thumping him vigorously with his clenched fist. “Tell me, villain, on your life, what has become of Jessie, Lady Laura’s maid ?” ‘“T don’t know,” Andy groaned. “ You are a liar, scoundrel! If gentle words won’t do let's try this,” sa d Darby, pricking his victim in the fleshy parts of the body with the point of his dagger, Andy roared with pain, He at last confessed tat Ivan had carried her off in the darkness in mistake for Lady Laura, and that one of the band had conveyed her away to the Forge! This confession startled all present, and Darby turned TERRIBLE. r 3128 deadly pale, for he had a secret love for Jessie of which no one ever dreamed, ‘To the Forge !” he mused. “ Then, ere this, the vile ruffians have betrayed and ruined her.” : He was so enraged at Andy's words that he seemed more than half inclined to despatch the villain upon the spot, but was restrained by Harry and Briny Bob. The fire was now almost extinguished, and Andy was bound and delivered to the custody of the troopers, Darby, however, could not rest. He moved about likea madman. Before any one could notice what he did or what were his intentions he selected a good sword, and, mounting a swift horse, dashed away in the darkness, none knew why nor whither bound, There was one, however, who intuitively guessed whither Darby had fled. That one was his young master, Harry Percy. ‘“‘Taken horse and fled has he?” said Harry, smiling. ‘Yes, yes; but the brave fellow is only rushing into further dangers; he has gone to beard the lion in his den; he has gone to the Forge! he will be lost! We must hasten to his rescue! Bring me a horse, quickly; follow me as many as dare; disguise yourselves well that no one may know you; get to your horses and away! ~* . _% B * * * * * Through the dark, cold night, Darby rode onwards to the Forge, determined to save Jessie from ruin or perish in the attempt. Mile after mile he furiously galloped and, ere long, came in sight of the twinkling lights, and dirty, narrow streets of the far-famed Forge. Among its many low dance houses and gambling hells he knew not which to visit first. He imagined that Ivan had given orders that Jessie should be placed in some place of the better sort among the many brothels there in order that he might visit his victim at plea- sure and effect her ruin. ' Darby was right ; he selected the best-looking brothel and, entered ! Tvan’s man had placed Jessie in a first-class brothel kept by one old Mother Clinch, an infamous faggot who had caused the ruin of hundreds in her time. Her house was often patronized by titled ones as well as by the lowest ruffians of the quartrr. Ivan’s orders were that Jessie should be confined in a pri- vate apartment until he himself called the next day ; but old Mother Clinch was so delighted with Jessie’s innocence and beauty that directly Ivan’s messenger had left the house she forced Jessie to deck herself out in flashy gaudy garments, like other lewd women in the house, and then pushed her into the common wine parlour, where men and women of all sorts were drinking, dice-throwing, and singing in a wild, loose, and riotous manner. : Several half tipsy gallants, who frequently visited “the Forge” “to see life,” as they termed it, but in reality to in- dulge their own beastly passions, immediately took notice of the blushing, dejected, and sorrowful Jessie. With rude, disgusting jokes they assailed her, and would then and there have taken indecent liberties, greatly to the delight of old Mother Clinch, who, like a she devil, enjcyed the innocent girl’s confusion, and applauded the acts and words of the tipsy gallants, “her noble customers,” as she termed them, for she saw that money was to be gaired by it. oie more rude than the rest, a blood-stained villain, who had slain many men in duels, Sir Humphrey Greathead by name, crossed the room, and waged that he would kiss her, He attempted it, and with no small brutal violence, The next moment a man, somewhat disfigured, rose sud- denly. A deh hand was laid upon Sir Humphrey’s shoulder, and with no light grasp. The manner in which this was done was unmistakable in its character, It was as unfriendly as firm, and there was anything but CORmiclooolkxs.con