Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

236 IVAN THE “T have a young son, who is a London Apprentice ; a fine bold lad he is, too, just like you.” “Well, go on.” “ And though I’m Mark Maberly, don’t you be surprised to hear what I’m going to tell you.” “ What is it ?” “ Tm one of Ivan’s men !”’ “What!” gasped Harry, stepping back in surprise and discust. . “What!” said he, ‘have we fallen into such villanous hands at last ?” The publican laughed and said, ‘“‘T thought you’d be surprised ; and so you are, judging by your pale face, and staring eyes; but, asI said before, I’m one of Ivan’s men, but I shan’t harm you for all that; come, take a seat for a few moments, and I'll tell you all.” Harry did not seem at all inclined to sit beside the burly publican, for fear of been suddenly shot or stabbed. He took his seat some few feet away, as old Maberly went on, “So it were you as did for Count Vincento, eh ?” 6“ Yes,”’ *‘ Give us your hand, my lad. I feel proud of you for doing that.” Do you?” “ Yes,”’ ** And you one of Ivan’s men?” ‘‘That’s the truth, and no mistake. I am one of I’van’s men as long as he and his friends supply me with smuggled liquors and pays me handsomely for holding my tongue, do you see ?” “Oh, that’s it, eh? You are not a ‘sworn member of his band, then?” “No more than you are. But there’s an old saying, ‘ You* praise the bridge that carrys you over ;’ and as long as they - pays me well for all they have in my house, I asks no questions, right or wrong, but lets ’em do and say whatever they likes in my house, the ‘ Peacock’ here, and so they goes their way happy enough, and I puts their money in my pocket as happy as they are.” ‘““Oh, I see; you do not allow robbery and bloodshed in your house ?”’ “No, lad, no; I hears a great deal, and when I can I puts an officer or two on their track, and so serve the ends of justice.” ; ** But they don’t know that ?” “No, it isn’t likely ; for, if so, I shouldn’t be a alive one week, that I can tell you, for they are savage devil’s when aroused, my boy.” ‘“‘ How do you know but that J wouldn’t inform on you ?”’ ‘“No you wouldn’t. I can tell from your face, it’s too honest ; but if I did think so, it would be a very easy matter for me to stop you, if I thought proper.” ‘Indeed! How? Ido not understand.” “Why, there are six of the Forgers in my house now.” ** Now—here ?”’ “Just so. Now, don’t get alarmed, for none on ’em knows about you bein’ here, although, if they did, it would go hard with you. They hate the name of Harry Percy, because you have always been their bitterest enemy.’ ‘‘ How came those villains here, then’?”’ ‘* Tor two purposes.” ‘ What are they ?” ‘The first one was by order of your particular friend, Moxton,” “ Morton ?” Hf Yes: * ‘ And the other ?”” “Sir Humphrey Greathead, You look surprised; but I know all about it, Things have turned out just as Morton said they would,” ‘What was that.” “Why, that if you did get wind of the plot against the girl, you would most likely run away with her to her uncle’s in the country ; and so you have, you see, I heard the Forgers speaking about it the night before last,’ Harry heaved a deep sigh, ‘What was their second motive ?”’ TERRIBLE. ‘Their first was to look after you and the girl on the road, and in the meantime to amuse themselves with a quiet bit of smuggling on the coast.” “ Smuggling 2” fe Toph : . “Yes, smuggling, and a very nice little thing they’ve made of it last night.” “What did they do?” “Why, conveyed from the coast three or four dozen kegs of brandy, some tobacco, and such like valuables.” Harry looked puzzled as old Mark went on. ‘“‘T knowed that Vincento as killed the colonel.” “ Did you?” “Yes, that I did, very well. than he ever knowed me.” ‘’ How was that?” — “ Because I wouldn't let him, A still tongue makes a wise head, they say. You see these Forgers all call me the ‘ Deaf Un.” “But you are not deaf?” “No more than you; but I makes ’em believe I am, and that’s the reason they comes to ‘visit me so often here down in the country. You see I can (hear all they say, but as long as they are good customers and pay well, I takes no notice, so therefore, I’m very well satisfied to remain the ‘ Deaf ’Un’ all my days.” ‘© You are artful, Mr. Maberly.” “You have aright to be cunning when you have foxes to deal with.” = “ Foxes ]” “ Aye, or wolves, if you like to call ’em so, my lad, for they are wolves. If you only knowed ’em asthe ‘ Deaf ’Un’ knows em! That Vincento was a wolf—a bloodthirsty one, too. I heard ’em talk a great deal about him afore you finished him off, and since. Oh! Ivan was down here one night, and he got blazing drunk and cried like a woman, and swore he would I knowed him much better not rest until he did for you.” ‘Did he though ?” “Yes, he did, and he meant it, I can tell you; but, as I said afore, I tell you all this because you’ve got a good-looking, honest face, and have proved yourself a man, and have con- quered one of the greatest rascals that ever lived. Come, come this way, my lad, you are safe with me,” “ But there are Forgers in the house, you say ?” “No matter for that ; come into my own parlour, the old woman will make you comfortable for an hour or two, and then I’ll get you a conveyance of some kind, There is only one condition I ask.” . “ What is it 2?” ‘Keep silent and dont be surprised at anything you hear or see.” CHAPTER CXV, THE FORGERS FOILED BY OLD MABERLY. THE strange behaviour of old Maberly, the innkeeper, sur- prised Harry very much, For a moment he imagined, from the wicked twinkling of the old man’s eyes, that he meant mischief, But, when he, Darby, and Lizzie Ashton found themselves very comfortably provided for in the best parlour, all fears began to disappear. In a very few words, Harry explained to Darby all that old Maberly had told him, and it must be confessed that the honest groom felt very nervous; not, indeed, for his own safety so much as tor that of his young master and his fair charge. “Oh! you needn’t fear,’ said Harry; “the old man is honest, and he promises to act the friend towards us.” “IT don’t know so much about that,’ said Darby, with a dubious shake of the head, “If there are any of the Forgers here, as he says, I think the very best thing we could do would be to leave at once, What say you, master ?” “Tf I really thought there was anything to fear here, I should adopt your plan, Darby ; but for the old man’s honesty I would be sworn.” Ce(oyina) (e| ooo) <SuGcom