Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

‘nnquiet spirits roam about the mou'dy old house, IVAN THE it 1s sur no fitting place for living beings.” 4 “How came I in this room?” “You were away a long time, and, as you returned not, I came to search for you. You were lying on the floor, near the door, from which you had evidently been trying to e:cape. ae The door had been left open after the departure of the mad messenger, and Leonora felt thankful that the old Sorcerer should put such an interpretation on the cir- cumstance, “The sight must have been terrible; no wonder she fainted,” he mused. ‘But come, ’tis night now, and if you will dress yourself in the garments of a man, we will leaye,’’ ‘But your promise.” ' “ What promise ?” “That you would tell me all about the murder,” ~ And so I will, at a fitting time and place, This is neither.” “Then I am again deceived,’ moaned Leonora, who had strong hopes of soon being rescued. “The day will come though,” continued the old man, “when you shall know all, and, perhaps, shall be amply re- venged. That day will come all the sooner for what has chanced this night.” : Leonora did not believe these promises, for she knew he was_a liar of old. She felt convinced in her own mind that now the great object of fear had passed away he would delay the fulfilment of his words, She was more satisfied with her position now that she had, through the agency of the mad woman, communicated with her friends, and did not wish to leave the old house yet for particular reasons, “ Would it not be as well to remain here ?” she said. spirits of the dead can follow you anywhere.” ‘“Foliow me?” repeated Dreadnought, while his waning colour proved how quickly the fear revived. “Aye, follow you. Are not all places alike to them?” “There may be some truth in that. Yes, at all events we will remain here till to-morrow. But you are not going to retire?” “Why do you ask?” ‘Because I do not wish to be alone.” “You are afraid, then, of that solitude which your guilty conscience peoples with such horrid visions?” she replied. “T will not enforce your company, then, although I should “ The ‘have desired it,” he said, noting the sneer which accompanied her words. = “ You dare not,” she replied, gliding from the room. “T must haye a renewal of your promise not to escape,”’ he called after her. _“You have it on the same terms as before,’ she replied, and then-sought the solitude of her own room. There by turns she wept, prayed, reflected on the past, and formed hopes and plans for the future. She was alone and in darkness, but yet the still small voice of hope was busy within her breast, whispering to her that there were now better grounds than ever for feeling elated. But she had not long to wait and pine; the old half-witted woman had found out the “ Green Man,” and had safely de- livered her important note. , CHAPTER XCII. THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF TEN—THE ESCAPE OF IVAN. THE many strange and alarming adventures which Will Winter and most of the London Apprentices had gone through of late, owing to the deadly hate and animosity of Ivan and his Forgers, had excited the greatest indignation among the gallant youths of whom Will was chief. “a "That some powerful nobles were at the bottom of it all Will Winter did not for a single moment disbelieve. > -” rn ———KLLLLLLLLC TERRIBLE. 195 He, therefore, called together the Council of Ten to confer with them as to the best manner of proceeding. “This storm has long been brewing,” said Charles Sea- bright, chief of the Blacksmiths’ Apprentices, “and I alwajs knew it would burst over us sooner or later.” “True,” said Dominic Dolio of the Farriers, “and if mz advice had been acted upon years ago, there would not be one of the Forgers living at this moment.” | “But it is much the best plan to abstain from blood- shed,” said Will Winter, mildly, ashe sat in the midst of them as chief of the council. ‘No man fears less to meet his foes than I do when there is any real occasion.” ‘But there is occasion,” said burly Bob Bunch, of the Butchers. ‘‘ Are we to allow the Forgers under Ivan, Andy, and the rest, to rule and riot..as they will? See what they have done to you, Will Winter; it is a perfect miracle that you are alive.” | “Will must. be something like a cat,’’ said Charles Sea- bright, good-humouredly, ‘‘ for he seems to possess nine lives, if not more ;_ hanging is nothing to him.” This remark caused much laughter, “Well, I tell you what we should do,” said Dominic, ‘‘ we should go up to the office of the Chief Justice, Sir Charles Cavendish, and have Michael’s murder enquired into.” “That is not necessary,” said one. “ Why not?” ‘‘ Because Sir Charles knows all about it already, and is as firmly convinced who did it as we are,” Will replied, with a smile. ; “ Well, [don’t know so much about that,” said Charles Sea- bright, ‘‘ If it were so, why should you be compelled to remain in private so long, asif afraid to show your nose out of doors, except at night?” ws ‘““That is for a particular purpose.” ‘‘ What purpose ?” . “ Why this : Sir Charles knows very well that Judge Jefferies is in league to some extent with Ivan’s gang, and until Sir Charles ferrets out all their doings together, he desires me to remain quiet.”’ ‘‘ Well, if that be the true reason,” said Dominic Dolio, “I fully agree toit; but if it is not, I vote that I call out all the Butchers’ Apprentices, and attack the ‘ Forge ’ at once.” ‘‘ Aye, aye, comrade,” said Charles Seabright, “I agree to that, and pull down old Jefferies’ house about his ears.” “Yes; and Sir Humphrey Greathead’s mansion also,” said another. “No, my friends, we will do nothing of that sort as yet,”’ said Will Winter. “I know full well that you and all the United Apprentices of London are burning to avenge the insult and ignominy that have been heaped upon me of late ; but you must know that what Ivan has done has been from a deeper motive than you believe. He has been rompted to do so by persons high in station, and with rareaemnit hie titles, That this isso, will shortly be proved to you all ; but what I wished to inform yon of to-night is this——” “What?” asked all in a breath. “ That itis the duty of us all, as loyal Englishmen, to watch all the doings of the Forgers, and not to let any of their actions go unnoticed by us.” “ And tosecure them quietly one by one ?” Yes? ‘ But I fear me that will take toolong atime. They are cunning as foxes, and have villanous friends in nearly every corner of the town.” “We shall have much trouble in securing Master Andy,” one remarked. ‘‘ We cannot entrap Ivan, I fear,” said several. “ But he is sectred,” said Will Winter. “ What, Ivan ?” TER. § | Loud applause greeted this news, and the Council of Ten gave three times three cheers in a loud and hearty manner. While the applause was at its height a loud knock atthe door was heart ‘““ What can that be?” asked one. “No doubt one of our EOQOMmICDOOlkc-com