Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

: IVAN THE have no time to spare with such hardened rascals as you, arkham, Come, men, bring him forth.” Roger was dragged out of his house and home by the band of rough soldiers. His daughter fell the floor fainti cane ater upon the floor ainting and weeping. ‘‘ Heaven have mercy on us all |!” said old Godfrey the next morning, with a well-affected air of piety and holy horror, “heaven have mercy on us all! Alas! who'd a thought of plots and stratagems and treasons against the good king, right here in our own street, and a goldsmith the ring-leader ?” Godfrey groaned as he said, “Happy itis he did not belong to the goldsmith’s most honourable company, or it would have been for ever disgraced, Alas! so much comes from having dealings with the devil ! Ah, well, he will be hanged of a surety. I never thought much of Roger; he was a disgrace to his trade, a beastly workman, as everybody knows.” “ Now, you see what I told you has come true, master,” said Alf, “and I think you ought to give me something for not bringing those two traitorous villains to have their work done at you shop; truly, they might well pay a high price for their orders when old Roger worked with a halter about his neck,” ; “And how came it to pass?” safd an old tradesman, who had just diopped in fora quiet gossip. ‘Isaw some rings in his shop window, but surely I do not think there was much treason in that.” “ Ah, Do, master,” Alf replied, “but he made some which bore a treasonable device, and those very rings, they say, were sent to several noblemen and gentlemen asasign by which they should know each other wherever they were or whenever they wrote to each other.” “ And what was the conspiracy ?”” “To kill or dethrone good King James, and bring forward the Prince of Orange to the English crown.” A look of wonder was on the face of each, CHAPTER CXIV. STRANGE ADVENTURES AT THE “ PEACOCK "THE FORGERS FROILED—THE SECRET CHAMBER—PLOT AND COUNTER PLOT —IMMINENT DANGER OF HARRY AND DARBY. ACCORDING to his promise, Harry Percy, as soon as he could possibly do so, met Lizzie Ashton and his faithful Darby at an appointed spot some miles in the country. Lizzie wa3 too much wearied and excited to ask many questions, or to desire long conversation. It was enough of sorrow for her, she thought, to be com- pelled to fly from the hospitable home at Percy House, which she had so long enjoyed. 3 : She knew, from the few,words {dropped by Harry, that ‘a dark conspiracy was at work against ,her, cand that she was thus obliged to fly from the scene ‘of danger,”perhaps to fly from certain death itself. She was go tired, indeed, that she proposed to stay at the village inn that night, and resume her journey on the morrow. This proposition Harry Percy would not listen to. “ You do not know, Lizzie, the character of the villains who have this plot in hand,” he said ; “if you did so you would not hesitate one moment to continue your journey.” It was impossible for the young girl to journey on horse- back, as meaty knew, and, therefore, he applied to the old landlord to assist him in the difficulty. | “Young couple eloping, I suppose,” said the landlord, with a broad grin. “Nothing of the kind, host. You need not ask any un- necessary questions. All I want is a carriage of some sort.” oes Re: “ Ah | that’s the very thing I ain’t got, sir. ‘ Not a coach or conveyance of any kind? « Nothing in the world but a cart, TERRIBLE. 235 ‘Oh! you must be mistaken, landlord, Look about and see what you éan do for us; I’ll pay you handsomely.” “ Couldn’t do it, young man, on any consideration ; besides, I should be violating the laws of the land in aiding or abet- ting two minors to escape from their proper parents or guardians,” “ But do you know who I am, sir?” ‘No; norI don’t care.” “Tam Earl Percy’s son, and if you will assist this young lady in escaping from her enemies, you will render us both a very great service.” “ Hscaping from her enemies, do you say?” the publican asked, in great surprise.” 6i Yes.”’ “Why, I can’t understand it at all! What enemies can she have in the world? Sucha pretty, pale, and harmless young creature as she is,” _ “But she has enemies, then, I can assure you, landlord, Come, assist her in escaping.” : *T will, on one condition.” “Name it,” “Tell me who these enemies are first.”- _ ... ~ “No less than some of Ivan’s bloodthirsty gang ‘Forge,’ who have been engaged to destroy her,” “You don’t mean that ?” “Yes, but I do though.” , “Why, lord a mercy! what harm could such a sinless maiden have done them ?”’ ‘‘ Nothing, good landlord.” “Nothing, indeed, young sir_?” “ And yet they have murdered her father in cold blood,” “ Yon are telling me the truth ?” - ‘Tam ; and more than that, I rescued her from a watery grave, and ayenged her father’s death by killing the scoun- drel who slew him.” “You did all this?” “T did; and would venture my life a thousand times to protect her.” “You are but a youth.” “Tam of noble blood, and hath a good right arm that should be raised in battle for her sake, at any moment, when called upon to do so,” The old publican put both hands to his capacious pocket, and looked at Harry for a moment in wonder. “Well, you’re a plucky one for a youngster,” said he. “‘ What was her father’s name ?” * Ashton.” _ Ashton, Ashton, let me think a moment ; I have heard of - that name before ; wasn’t he killed in battle, or something of that sort? we folks in the country were told so.” ‘No, he was killed in a duel, by Count Vincento, one of Ivan’s genteelest rascals.” “Oh, now I understand it all,” said the old man. For a moment he sat gazing at Harry in apparent wonder.. At last he said, “Young man, did you ever see my face before?” ‘‘Your face, no. Why do you ask ?” “Well then, I’ve seen you face before.” ‘Indeed, where?” ‘In Smithfield, on the day when the London Apprentices beat back Ivan and his men across the water to the forge.” “ T remember.” ‘Yes, and you should feel proud to remember it too, for it was a glorious fight, and I helped you.” “ Did you ?” ‘Yes, and would again; but that is not the reason why I wanted you to look at my face.” ‘ What then ?” “So that you might always know it again, for you cannot guess who I am.” “ Who are you?” said Harry, who now began to be very impatient and restless. Well, I’ll tell you ; but, don’t you and the lassie put your- selves out about nothing, but do you listen tome. My name is Mark Maberly.” 3 “ Well, what of that ?” at. the GEoOmichdoo S,COUNM