Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

OR, DARK DEEDS THE FIGHT IN THE SEA, bad + ar CHAPTER XCIV.—(continued.) The earl turned pale, and seemed startled at what he ~ heard. ‘ _ “Shall it be so, my lord ?” asked Morton, with a look of cunning triumph. “As you like,” said my lord, with a sigh; but added, after & pause, Morton ?” “Yes, my lord.” ‘““ Doit quickly ; let no soul breathing suspect you.” “Trust me, my lord—it is done !” This conversation between the earl and Morton was con- _ tinued on their way homeward ; but what resolution had been _ arrived at between them was unknown until that same evening, and its discovery by Harry Percy was purely accidental. A masked ball was given by the king that same evening to many of the nobility, who thronged the royal gardens in the _ grandest and most lavish style of costume. __ Among others so invited were the earl, Jefferies, Sir Humphrey Greathead, and the clerical-looking Morton. Lady Laura had been also invited, but she declined attend- ing it, for reasons best known to herself. Z ME Among those, however, who had mot received cards of in- yitation, was Harry Percy. -~ When he first heard of the intended masquerade, he had not noticed it much, and, perhaps, never might have done so, had not Lizzie-Ashton spoken of it on their way home from the forest, where Harry and herself had plighted their vows. “Oh, this is a joyous day for me, Lizzie,” said Harry, as he galloped homewards light of heart, and brimful of joy, beside his affianced bride. “T shall never forget it, Harry,” was the quiet respons the blushing beauty by his side. _ “Let me see, what is this day memorable for, in cz should forget it,” laughed Harry, “Oh, nowI remem the grand bal masque at the palace,” No. 26. RRIBLE: 7 OF NIGHT. oh “Bal masque?” said Lizzie, laughing. “ How singular! I dreamt last night that I went to one, and enjoyed myself amazingly.” ~ “Indeed ! Were you never at one?” “ Never.” ‘Then you shall go with me to-night,” “ With you to-night ?” “Yes. I am not invited, truly ; I suppose they consider me too young to go to such places; but nevertheless, I will ZO, and on must accompany me.” tc IE ”? “Yes ; we can arrange all about the matter of costume when we reach home, and we can go so privately that we may enjoy ourselves there for a couple of hours, and return homewards again, without any one knowing it.” After much persuasion and coaxing Lizzie consented, and so well had Harry perfected all his arrangements that they not only were admitted (under fictitious titles, it is true), but they had the great pleasure of dancing in the company of the earl and of Sir Humphrey Greathead without either of those notables being aware of it. From Morton’s restless manner in the gardens and grounds, and from certain expressions he heard him let fall, Harry felt convinced that his father and Morton were concocting some scheme they did not wish him to know. ‘“‘T have spoken to him,” Harry heard Morton say to Sir _ Humphrey, “and he will, when the clock strikes six, seé you in the garden, near the small arbour, where we may all be at full leisure to speak of Harry and the orphan girl. He ‘says you know mete about the deceased colone land his relations than any one dreams of,”’ that’s it, eh?” said Harry. ‘So, 50! Master Morton wing again, the villain, eh? and has picked me out. e clock strikes six, near “the small arbour,’ eh? be there; ‘forewarned is, forearmed,’ they gay. bver as you are, TwifeCol salka o(aVol <n ae) 1)