Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE some secret pocket in his legal attire a small bottle filled with spirits, which he handed to the prisoner. A short cough, and -a peculiar look about the eyes made ‘known the fact that the liquid was somewhat stronger than water. As soon as Iyan had taken a draught, the door was opened by the turnkey, who began to grow impatient at the prolonged stay of the legal visitor. Mr. Councillor Nash instantly assumed the voice and manner that had before been so successful in deceiving the officers. “Keep up your spirits, my boy, you'll find it all right in the end,” said he, in tones of consolation. + “Now, then, sir, I’m waiting for you; come along,” said the officer. “You'd better leave me now, my dear friend; I place my case entirely in your hands,” said Ivan, with great difficulty keeping down a laugh, for he was not without some fear that his legal friend and adviser might overact his part. “Well, good night, my boy,” said the councillor, “we have not had much time to consult, but I havenot the slightest doubt when your trial comes off that you will fully clear your- self of all the vile charges brought against you by your vin- dictive enemies.” A few moments afterwards the “councillor” departed, and Ivan could fairtly hear him telling the.turnkey what a poor, innocent, persecuted person he (Ivan) was. “ T think I did that job well,” muttered Nobby, to himself, as he walked away from the gaol gate into the streets again. And now, as soon as I’ve got rid of these lawyer’s garments, T'll come back and wait for my innocent client, who I don’t expect will be very long escaping from this stone jug, if all I’ve heard of his cleverness is true.” Ivan, some time before his arrest and incarceration, had made a careful survey of the exterior of that and other build- ings of the kind, in case any of the Forgers should at any time be in “ limbo,” and had come to the conclusion that there was nothing to prevent a resolute man, such as he was, from cutting his way out, provided, of course, he could lay hands on the necessary implements. Practice makes perfect, they say, and the prisoner within as well as his friend without, had considerable experience in burglarious arts, as we have frequently seen in this story. As soon as Ivan, therefore, found himself alone, he made a careful examination of his cell for some place in which to conceal the housebreaking implements his friend had brought, being well aware that in most places of the kind in which he was, prisoners are searched after being visited by their friends. A careful examination of the fire-place led to the discovery that the plate of metal forming the hob could be wrenched up, and that beneath it was a cavity of considerable size, large enough, in fact, to conceal all the tools he possessed. It was ayery unlikely place to be searched by the and Ivan was not slow to avail himself of the chance, It was well he did so, for scarcely had he restored the fire- place to its usual appearance, when the door opened, and one of the officers appeared. ae “ You've had a visitor, a lawyer, here, I believe ?” “Why, bless me, you must be one of the wise men of the east. Your knowledge is wonderful,” replied Ivan, with a smile of contempt, “T’ve come to search you,” continued the officer, “ so none of your bounce,” “What's that for? I was searched when I was here.” Best ; “Can’thelpit. It’s a rule always to search the prisoners after they’ve had visitors.” “Search away, then, my officious friend, you won't find much of anything about me,” The man performed his duty in that careful systematic manner peculiar to gaolers and constables; but, of course, there was nothing about the person of Ivan worth. con- fiscating, When the process of searching was completed, the officer left the cell, while Ivan, with a cunning grim, listened attun- tively as the door was closed. “ Ah! a lock and two bolts in the door, eh? Well, they are turnkey, brought TERRIBLE. : 173 not of much use,” muttered he to himself. “ These little tools of mine will make quick work of them. Good luck to my lawyer, for bringing them.” So saying,~he proceeded to the fire-place, and once more took his implements from their place of concealment. After this he carefully examined them to see that they were all in working order, and the pistols properly loaded. _ That done he sat down to wait patiently for two hours, by which time he judged no one would be stirring in the prison but the night watchmen. The time hung heavily on his hands ; but by dint of whistling, singing, and swearing lustily at times, he managed to get through the intervening period, though he caused great annoyance to the inmates of some of the adjoining cells, who fervently wished him elsewhere, or that he had a sore throat, and was unable to make such sounds. At length, after many weary hours, he heard a neighbouring church clock strike eleven. Another solitary hour, more wearisome than the past, and then midnight was solemnly boomed forth from every belfry around. A silence, as profound as that of the graye, reigned through the prison as Ivan carefully lit his dark lantern. Just as he had accomplished that portion of his task, and was about to direct the rays of light on the lock of the door, a heavy measured tread resounded through the stone passage without, It passed the cell door, and then a gruff voice was heard to exclaim, . “ All’s well |” Another voice replied with the same words, and then a different step passed along the corridor, “ All right,” thought Ivan. “For an hour at the least I shall be free from any interruption on the part of the watch- man. It was lucky though that I had not turned on the light, or they must have seen it through the keyhole.” Then, with quite a professional air, he took up the keys one after another, and tried them till he found one which opened the massfve lock before him. 7 But still, even when that obstacle had been overcome, there still remained the bolts, and he then began carefully to con- sider the best way to remove those impediments. ‘Now, I dare say there’s a plate of iron outside this door,” thought he to himself, ‘ These gaol people fancy that because they bring us in through the door it is impossible to get out by any other way. Ha! hal” In order to ascertain whether his suspicions with regard to the iron casing were correct, he rapidly bored a hole through the woodwork of the door with a small gimlet, but he soon found that some kind of metal checked the progress of the implement. Convinced by this that to penetrate the door would re- quire considerable time he turned his attention to the walls. In a few minutes he discovered that, with all their ap- pearance of strength and solidity, they were in reality only of brick covered with Roman cement. This soon yielded to the superior powers of a chisel and crowbar, revealing the brickwork beneath, which he com- menced cutting and chipping with a rapidity which promised soon to bring him through the deceptive wall. His object was to make an aperture close to the door, through which he would be able to put his arm and withdraw the bolts. In the space of half an hour from the commencement of his task he had nearly completed it, when a thought struck his active brain, and he suspended his labours for a few seconds to decide whether it would be prudent to make his venture until after the watchmen had once more performed their round. ~ There was no knowing, however, how soon that might be, and after all he knew tltere were not many men who would dare oppose him if once he found himself on the road to liberty. With this comforting reflection he once more returned to his task, and putting forth his whole strength succeeded. in removing one of the outermost bricks, not without some noise, however, for a large piece of plaster fell down into the age outside the cell, on COMicoooks.Con