Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

250 IVAN THE CHAPTER CXXII. CONFERENCE BETWEEN TWO HIRED RUFFIANS IN THE SHRUBBERY—EARL PERCY HEARS STRANGE DISCLOSURES —MORTON’S PLAN REVEALED—THE SURPRISE. WHEN Earl Percy bade Morton retire, and expressed his wish to enter the shrubbery in order to meet the unknown witness alone, his heart was troubled and his nerves much shaken at all that Morton had told him. : It was a strange humiliation, he thought, that his son Harry should so foolishly entertain feelings of mere friendship, let alone love for Lizzie Ashton. But the thought that his charming daughter—she, Laura, the pride and admiration of all the aristocracy—should have secretly met such a character as Blue-Jacket, and entertain strong feelings towards him, must, be it confessed, have almost crazed his brain. ‘This Morton is a cunning, subtle fellow,” mused the earl, as he walked slowly forward through the shrubbery. ‘‘ He knows more than he likes to tell me. I will seek out this fellow he tells me of, and pump out of him all that he knows.” . While the earl, with a low step, was moying through the shrubbery by a small pathway half-hidden by the trees, he heard a very low and faint whistle. He stopped and listened, The whistle was repeated. In a moment or two it was answered by another. The earl was surprised, but not alarmed. He had a good sword by his side, and, as all the world knew, he never feared to meet two or even half a dozen men in combat. — “What means this?” he thought. ‘ Morton said there was but one man, but there are evidently two.” He remained where he then stood, his hand upon the sword hilt. ' ‘‘Can it be that this ruffian, whoever he be, has dark designs of his own that Morton knows not of? Suppose they assail suddenly and murder mg in this dark and secluded place? There may be a dozen or more, for all one knows.” He sat down on a rustic seat, behind a large oak tree, sword in hand. ; In a few seconds more he heard something creeping through the trees quietly, like some midnight beast crawling upon its prey. . His heart beat violently, and his breathing was hard. The person, whoever if was, stopped about twelve paces from where the earl sat. | Me ‘“ Are you there?” said the yoice of one unknown, in faint tones. ; ‘‘ Yes,” was the almost inaudible reply of the second one, who was concealed in a tree. ‘Have you scen anything ?” “Yes; not long ago Isaw two men moving this way, but one of them turned back and entered the mansion.” ‘Who were they ?” ‘One was Morton,” ** And the other ?” “TIT don’t know, He was a tall old man, with long grey hair as well I could make out, and carried a sword.” ‘¢It was the earl I take it,” “‘ So I supposed,” ‘** And did he wave Morton from him ?” Yes.” “Then I’m very glad I shifted my quarters when I did.” 6s Why ” ““T don’t mind meeting Morton alone, but I’d as soon meet the devil as the old earl.” ‘‘ Why so?” ‘Because I could humbug Morton, you see, and he would believe almost anything I told him ; but not so with the earl. If he only knew I was one of the Forgers he’d stick me on the spot like a fat pig,” A low laugh was his comrade’s only answer, as he asked, ** Well, what do you intend to do?” ‘““Why, I shall remain here until Isee Morton, that’s all. He knows how and where to find her well enough ; but you don’t TERRIBLE. catch me facing old Perey; he’s.a perfect bull-dog when aroused by any suspicions.” . “Don’t he know what Morton’s game 1s ?” ‘‘ What, the earl?” “c Yes,’ “No; lord help Morton if he did! He wouldn’t live five minutes if he did. I’ve crammed old Morton with bushels of wild stories, and he believes them all.” “Do you think so ?” **7’m sure so.”’ ‘‘ What’s he after?” “Oh, a devil of a lot of things.” ‘‘ Ts there a woman in the case ?” ‘* Yes, there is.” ‘‘ His daughter Laura 2” “Yes, the same one.” ‘‘ She’s a slashing-looking girl.” ‘‘T believe you. Did you ever see her out riding?” _ ‘ ‘Yes, often in the parks. She sits her horse like as if she was part and parcel of it.” “Just so; and ain’t she beautiful, though? Such long tresses, fine eyes, proud style, and curling lips—heigho !” said the ruffian, chuckling at his own thoughts. “No wonder Ivan has had his eyes upon her,” said the other, ‘‘ but I fear he’ll never get her.” ‘‘T don’t know that ; Ivan and Andy have laid their plans to get her by fair means or foul; but there are others after her as well.” “Indeed !” “Yes ; did you never hear it before?” ce No.?”’ ‘Oh, yes! It’s the common talk among the Forgers, about Blue-Jacket and her.” ‘‘Then Morton is right,’’ sighed the old nobleman, as he heard these words in his place of concealment, ‘‘ Cease, my heart, your wild beatings! I must, I will hear more !” He placed a handkerchief to his mouth so as to drown his voice, which he thought in some moment of indiscretion might betray him. He leaned his head in the direction of the two mysterious speakers, and listened intently to all that passed between them. “Now I come to think of it,” said the other ruffian, “ I have heard some whisperings of that sort among the Forgers, but I never believed it.” ** It’s true, though.” ** And who are the other ones that are after her ?” ** Who do you think?” “T can’t say; he must be a brave fellow, whoever he “You areright; he 7s a bold fellow. But who do you think it is?” ‘‘Can’t say.” ‘No one else than Morton !” “You don’t mean that ?” “T do, though,” “Why, the grey-haired old villain ought to be thinking of his grave instead of such a buxom damsel as she is, and an earl’s daughter, too.” “Yes, and an earl’s daughter,” said the other, with a low laugh. ‘ Hasn’t the old ’un got courage?” “Yes, and impudence enough for Satan himself.” The earl heard all this, and could scarce refrain from eroaning aloud. ‘“But surely he cannot expect such an old rat as he is will have any chance with her?” “He does, though. And the way he is working his plays with the old earl makes me believe he will succeed if Ivan or Blue-Jacket are not beforehand with him,” ‘‘What are his plans, then ?” , “Why, these. He doesn’t know that Ivan has got his eyes in that same quarter, but he does know that Blue-Jacket has,”’ . | ** Well ?” ‘ ‘“We has given me orders to keep a sharp took-out for Blue-Jacket, and, as you know, he pays well for all we do for him,”’ Eomichooks.com 3