Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 233: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN. THE aré not so blind as they take us for. Up with your caps, lads, for good King James. I should like to know, though, what those two suspicious-looking fellows want with old Roger Markham? If I thought their pockets had been well filled with gold pieces, I would have sent them to my own master Godfrey, at the Golden Shield,” | é} “Trust not to appearances always, Alf,” said a companion ; ‘‘ you may have lost your master two good customers by your sharp tongue. See, there the two strangers go.” ‘‘ Aye, lads, there they go truly,” said a stern voice behind them, “ but there are other eyes beside your own that watch those two.” The person who spoke was an old-looking man of mean appearance, but of commanding stature, and a silvery voice. He passed on, and his remark made no impression on Master Alf and his companions who stood at the street corner. A short half-hour passed away, and dozens of the appren- tices left the street and retired to their homes. All save Alf, Master Godfrey’s apprentice, had left the open street, but he stood outside Roger Markham’s door, to catch a glimpse of the two strangers who had entered. It was all in vain, however. Alf, inquisitive as he was, might have waited all the night, though without seeing the two strangers, for they had given their order and departed by the garden gate, Alf was annoyed at his disappointment, but went home resolving in his own mind that he would never rest contented until he had learned something regarding the errand of the two strangers to Roger Markham’s shop. Next morning saw an unusual smoke rise from Roger Mark- ham’s workshop. His only apprentice bustled about, and Roger himself, who had been very down in the world, now wore a pleased and smiljjng countenance. *“T should dearly like to know what all that smoke be- tokens that’s now coming from Roger Markham’s workshop,” said Godfrey the goldsmith, at the sign of the ‘‘ Golden Shield,” to his saucy apprentice, Alf, ‘If I thought those two strangers had given Roger a large order, I’d thrash you soundly for your sauce to them, Master Alf, that I would. Had you told them that Roger was no workman, and that I worked for his lordship the mayor, they might have come to _ me here, at the ‘ Golden Shield.’ ” “ Them give a good order |” said Master Alf, in scorn, “ They were more likely beggars, who wanted Roger, through the influence of the devil, to change a single gold piece into twenty for them ; for we all know that old Roger is fond of books of mystery, and pretends to a knowledge of changing the nature of metals, through Satan’s influence,” “True, lad; true, Alf. You now see what comes of book- learning and deep study into languages. If Roger had not learned Latin and Greek and French, he never would have had any dealings with Beelzebub! I always said it would ruin him,” “So did I, and so it has; none of the goldsmiths’ guild will have anything to do with him.” “No, true, they will not; he must surely come to ruin and go to the debtors’ prison to die and rot. I’m sorry for his daughter Katie, though ; she’s a nice girl, and has been bred up with different expectations. Well, so the world goes, Master Alf, and mind you stick to your own trade and let the devil and learned books alone.” ‘Tet me alone for that, master,” answered Alf, laughing. “Tm not so fond of books as all that; and as to having any- thing to do with old Roger, I’d rather knock him down with my cudgel, any day in the week.” ; : : “A good lad; Alf is a good lad!” said his master, going out into the street ; ‘“‘and he sticks up for me likea good fellow, A fine citizen he’ll make one o’ these days !” A short week passed since the night visit of the two strangers to Roger Markham. ’ The people of Hastcheape were surprised at what they saw. On Roger’s shop-board, lately so bare, were twenty massive gold rings, of exquisite workmanship, which called forth the praises of ail who chanced to pass and see them. RAT he Godfrey, the master goldsmith of the Golden Shield, looked into Roger’s show window with surprise. TERRIBLE. 229 “Roger is an excellent workman,” he said to the alderman of the ward, who was also gazing at the beautiful rings; “ he is an excellent workman truly, and turns out his work well, but in all truth I should much like to know who gave him that order,”’ “So should I,” the alderman replied, “‘for Roger told me they are quite unknown to him, but promised to come and pay the money and take them away to-night.” Godfrey went home to the “Golden Shield,” making up his mind to give Master Alf a good thrashing for having been rude to two gentlemen who could give him such a fine order. CHAPTER CX. WHAT made Godfrey more savage was that the alderman himself went into Roger’s shop, and gave an order for a ring similar in design, so much pleased was he with them ! Rogers began to think that good fortune was now about to visit him, and with a grateful heart he returned thanks to heaven for it. That evening Roger Markham, wearied with the labours of the day, had gone out for a walk in the adjacent fields to recreate himself. No one was left at home but his charming daughter, Katie. Suddenly there was a loud rapping at the door of the shop | Katie jumped from her seat, and cautiously opened the door. Two men were there, each wrapped in a cloak, as a sort of disguise, They inquired for the goldsmith. Katie answered that he was not at home. This seemed to displease the two strangers, They spoke to each other quietly, in low tones, so that Katie could not understand a single word. ‘The signet rings were asked for, and they paid for them on the spot; producing purses so large and well-stocked with gold coin that apparently the two strangers possessed more than sufficient money to purchase Roger Markham’s whole stock of goods, house and all! ~ “Tam sorry that your father is not at home,” said the first speaker, who was no other than Sir Giles, ‘‘but I dare say, you can do as well, my young maiden.” So speaking, the two strangers entered the passage and closed the door after them, Sir Giles paid for the twenty rings, and- received them, He was much pleased with their workmanship, and so ex- pressed himself. “Do you know for whom these rings were made?” Morton asked. © No, sir.” ‘Did not your father guess, my girl?” Sir Giles remarked. “No, sir. I never heard him meotion a syllable about them. I don’t suppose he knew any more than Ido. It is sufficient for him that they please you, and that you pay for them.” ‘You are discreet, I perceive,” said Morton. “ Yes: that she is,” Sir Giles remarked; ‘‘and to prove that we are well pleased, not only with his workmanship but punctuality also, I will leave an order for ten more IY Katie curtsied and blushed. “But tell your father, my girl, that these ten rings must have under the signet the letter W. H., in relief.” “J will not forget, gentlemen.” “ And as a last word I would have you remind him that he must not on any account allow persons to examinethem. No one must see them, mind, for we have heard that the alder- man of this ward saw these twenty and had one made like them for himself, Mark, no one must see these ten new ones on any account, or they are useless, We would not even call for them.” The speakers again muffled themselves up in their cloaks and departed. From curiosity Katie watched them up the street they were lost in the shadowe ks aive ooo | KS Cony