Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 222: what you’re looking at

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

218 | IVAN THE what they are, and I doubt not they will trouble you less than now if there is any cunning wit in me, or a good pair of hands to beat them well.” ‘Well, then, the truth is, Darby, I am deeply in love ; you guess as much ; I judge so from your confused looks,” ‘“T do know so, master ; and with Miss Ashton ?” 66 Yes.”’ “T knew it from the moment when you rescued her from drowning. No one who saw your looks or heard your words on that occasion could doubt it ; my heart told me so, sir, and my heart approved it, for a sweeter girl, a more angel-like being, does not, could not exist,” “Well, Darby, as you have discovered this much, and cor- rectly, let me tell you that Morton has become mine enemy, and even now is planning the girl’s destruction. I wish you to watch him, and inform me of all he does or says.” **T have done so already,” said Darby, proudly. “You have done so already, say you ?” “Yes ; from the moment I saw him watching you in the shrubberies, I suspected him, and my thoughts are correct,” “What have you discovered, then ?” “More than you have any idea of,” “ You look curious ; what mean you, Darby?” ““T mean this. A week ago I discovered a big, black-look- ing ruffian lying in the high grass in waiting for some object or purpose.” ‘What purpose ?” “To steal away Miss Ashton,” “Can it be possible ?” “Tt is strictly correct, and this was truly and really meant, I ascertained an hour afterwards in a secret conversation which I overheard between Morton and the villain beneath the group of chestnut trees at the east gate of the park.” “You are sure of this?” “Tam, and if Morton cannot succeed in abducting her, I have no doubt he would not scruple to murder her, or, at all events, to get her murdered.” “‘Oh! it is too horrible to believe!” groaned Harry. cannot, I will not believe it, to such a plan,” ‘Perhaps not,” said Darby, colouring ; “but I have posi- tive proof that he would not object to her abduction,” ‘* Positive proof ?” “Yes: and to convince you, hearken to me,” T will,” “T followed this ruffian to his den,” “Where did he go to then?” “To the ‘Forge!’ Nay, start not, Master Harry, this Morton knows more of, and has had in his time more deal- ings with, Ivan’s villains than I could ever have suspected of one in his high position in the world,” Harry turned pale, “T listen,” he muttered. “T followed the villain to the ‘ Forge,’ for I saw Morton give him a letter, and whisper something in his ear I wished much to know.” “What you, single and unaided, dare go into the ‘Forge’ at daylight ?” “Yes, and more than that, Listen ; this rascal was so well supplied with money that he stopped at a small cottage beside the river, and began to drink freely, and lay stretched upon the green sward drinking bottle after bottle of wine, and singing loudly.” “Seating myself upon a tub near by, I also began to drink moderately, but kept my eye upon the movements of two gentlemanly persons who were prowling about. “As these two gentlemen, from some unknown cause, took a great dislike to me, and passed unpleasant remarks about my size and strength compared with that of the man lying on the grass, I suspected something wrong was in the wind, and watched them more closely than before. ‘This greatly annoyed them, for they evidently had some private business with the ruffian which they did not wish to disclose in my hearing, ‘‘ At last one of them approached the big, burly ruffian, and said in a whisper, which I heard, & I My father would not be a party a el —e aa yay . a . TERRIBLE. “‘¢- You come from Percy Park, and have a note for me from Morton? He promised me to send one by you.’ “¢ Oh, are you the party?’ the ruffian said. ‘Now I comes to look at you I see it’s all right. Yes, I have got a letter, But what does that young groomy-looking youth do here?’ ‘““He is watching us,’ they answered. ‘He’s up to no ood,’ : ‘“‘¢ Watching?’ said the ruffian, ‘Z’77 soon wean him of that weakness. Besides, he’s a stranger tothe Forge. Il settle him in the twinkling of an eye. You see how soon [ll knock him off his perch.’ “ He came up to me, and would have knocked me down without a word of quarrel or provocation.” “But you did not let him ?” said Harry, eagerly. “No, I did not; I rose from my tub on the instant, pulled off my coat in a second, lowered my braces, and slipped into him right and left. ; “T handled my big gentleman so nicely,” said Darby, “that in less than five minutes I had beaten him almost toa standstill, greatly to his own surprise, and that of his two friends. “‘¢Now,’ said I, throwing him on the grass with great violence, and seizing him by the throat and squeezing him until he opened his mouth wide, and gasped like a stranded shark, ‘now,’ said I, ‘give up that letter to me, or I will strangle you.’ “The big ruffian was taken greatly by surprise, but, fearful that his friends might interfere, I searched him, and took the note from his breast before either of his friends knew or could imagine what I was about,” “ What then?” “Seeing my way clear I rose to depart. The ruffian’s two friends would have prevented me, but, being un- armed, neither of them was very formidable, so, as I rushed by them, I gave each a dig under the jaw, right and left, with all my strength, and left them bawling and sprawl- ing beside their friend on the grass, with blackened eyes and bloody noses. I was chased by some of the Forgers who heard their shouts, but I managed to escape, and here I am.” ‘‘ When did this occur ?” “This very morning; here is the letter, sir,” said Darby, with pride, handing one to Harry; “read it, it will surprise you.” CHAPTER CIV. WILL WINTER DETERMINES UPON GOING TO THE FORGE TO CAPTURE IVAN, But if young Frank was in the midst of adventures at the “Forge” what must be said of Will Winter? He and the Apprentices truly had a profound disgust for Ivan and his atrocious band, but none of them entertained ~ such violent hatred towards them as the Grand Master of the London Apprentices, That this passion for revenge was in some way excusable on the part of Will Winter can readily be seen by all who has read the thrilling narrative of his doings with the Forger. It will not be soon forgotten how the cruel murder of his master, old Michael the Clothworker, had caused his arrest and seclusion in a dungeon. It will be remembered, likewise, that Ivan:and Andy had sworn his life away before a packed jury, and that all evidence in his favour given by the clothworker’s daughter had been despised and rejected by Lord Jefferies upon the bench, His cruel execution and rescue; the second execution and hanging in chains will not be soon forgotten, nor his rescue from certain death by Harry Percy and Darby. All these thoughts and recollections were rankling in his breast, and although he did not wish to throw his life away foolishly he had sworn in his heart of hearts that he would never rest content until he had had signal vengeance on all who were concerned in the plot against him, When, therefore, it was reported that Ivan had once more escaped from justice by break oe iis bookscom