Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN NOM se «is “ Are you sure not within this hour ?” “No, I'm sure of it,” “Then, it was not Lizzie Ashton I saw.” pS No, I’ll swear it was not,” said the rogue, ‘‘ for I have kept strict watch here.” The truth was, however, that he hac eee ; F 1 been sound asleep in But this Morton did not know, for had he had the slightest suspicion that his intended victim had escaped through the rogue’s negligence he would have had no compunction of conscience whatever in killing him on the spot. “Then go you at once and inform those two gentlemen of what I have said, and tell them that at midnight all will be ready for action,” “T will,” “You know the rest ?” fe ldo,? “Then midnight let it be, mind ye, but not a moment. later.” ‘ All shall be arranged as you desire, trust me for it.” “Wait at the orchard gates until I come, and let a carriage be ready with four swift horses.” “ T have arranged that already.” “Then until midnight work well and watch,” T will.” Morton retraced his steps towards the house, while the canning villain, with a sly smile of triumph, departed chuck- ing. ‘Tt was a good lie I told him ; but no matter, I’ve got the money, and if all fails it’s nought to me, I'll havea jolly spree to-night in the Forge ; Morton will never see my face again, I think,” CHAPTER CYIII, Ivan, having missed his aim in firing at young Maberly, re- turned to the wine-shop at which he was about to enter ere young Mark flitted by the door. 3 He was full of oaths, and wounded as he had been in es- caping from prison, was not in the very best of moods, His friends and followers greeted his return to the Forge with loud applause. Ivan himself celebrated his escape by loudly singing songs and drinking copious draughts of ardent spirits among those who acknowledged him as their chief. As we have seen in former chapters, these wine-shops were greatly patronized by the scores of lewd women who lived in idleness and debauchery in the many houses of bad repute that were there. “ Gentlemen of pleasure,” “men about town,” and rascals of every name and calling sought their orgies at this out-of- the way corner of London, and many had met their death there. This fact, however, did not deter men of high degree, but of very loose morals, from frequenting the place, and assocl- ating with the lowest of the low. On the night of which we now write there was more than one young gallant who idled away his time, and dissipated his health and wealth in the gambling “hells” of this neigh- bourhood, Women there were of all ages and colout, who, decked out in strange styles, sought to captivate and ensnare the young and unwatly. Among those who unfortunately called at the very wine- shop at which Ivan stopped was the eldest son of the cele- brated magistrate, Sir Charles Cavendish, He had drank deeply, and gambled freely ; but, strange to say, instead of losing he had won considerable sums of money, and, as might be expected, he spent large sums upon scores of persons who were in every respect unworthy of his notice, THE TERRIBLE. 224 He wished to return to his father’s dwelling, but no boat could be found to convey him across the river that night. He had not won his money in gambling without being ob- served by mere than one of the many harpies who skulked around the numerous card tables, One there was who had seen him place scores and scores of valuable notes in his breast pocket, and who had secretly ropolnes that he should neyer carry them away with him alive. This person was a young girl of prepossessing exterior, with fine large dark eyes and raven hair, Her name was Marian, and she was the daughter of the landlord, and one of Ivyan’s many mistresses, Young Cavendish, attracted by her looks and ways, had danced with her and supped luxuriously ; in truth, so simple was her manner, and devoid of all apparent guile, that any one would never have taken her to be the determined and heartless girl she really was, Ivan, although well-nigh drunk, had noticed the attention which young Cavendish was paying to his mistress, and he sought a fitting opportunity to sound her intentions. ‘‘What do you intend to do with him, Marian?” he asked, in a drunken hiccup. “Do? What should I do, but first make him stupid, and then, when he is drunk, steal into thé room, and, if need be “Yes, yes,” said Ivan, “ Bravo, my brave girl! that’s right, ease him of all his money, and, if he should attempt to resist, you know, a knife——” ‘Hus-s-h, Ivan !” said Marian, with a wild glare upon her face, “leave the rest to me.” ‘© You have done all this before?” “Of course [have. The trap-door leading to the cellar is an easy means of entering the room we will conduct him to, and then, when sound asleep, I will enter ; if he resists, your long knife will do the rest ; be you near, and then——” “ Then we can throw his body into the Thames,” said Ivan, with a low chuckle of savage pleasure, “No one will ever know who did it.” ‘“‘ How is he now ?” “Qh! he has taken plenty already to make him drunk, but it has had no effect upon him, I must drug him.” ‘Do so; the hour is late. You have no time to lose.” So speaking, Ivan re-entered the room where he had been drinking with his friends, and took no more notice of Marian, who entered the parlour again, and began to laugh and sing, and caper about, much to the delight of young Cavendish, who was equally as meiry. This lasted for some time, and, at a favourable moment, she drugged the young man’s wine, The effect was almost instantaneous. Young Cavendish began to grow sleepy and heavy, and in this state Marian and another woman led him forth from the parlour and introduced him to a comfortable bed in aroom on the ground floor. Having done this they retired and left him alone, As if by some magic power, young Cavendish began to rally from the state of stupor into which he had fallen. He rose from the bed and locked the door as best he could, muttering, «Pm drunk, I know, but none of them are clever enough for me. If 1 am in the Forge, none of ,the rascals shall get the better of me, [ know. There, I’ve locked and bolted the door ; no one can disturb or rob me now.” With great circumspection for a drunken man, he next pro- ceeded to the bed, and, drawing down the clothes, threw him- self upon it, covered himself, and was soon fast asleep, Once or twice he started out of his sleep suddenly, but soon was slumbering again in happy innocence and devoid of fear. Hours passed, and all was still. Not a sound disturbed the calm that now reigned on all around, The drunken Forgers had retired to their homes, which might more appropriately be termed “ dens,” Ivan, however, stretched full length and alone upon a bench in the wine-shop, snored lovalyy) 41a bya¥e)| aS ‘COs