Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

| 266 Ivan made no further remark, but shook his chains in such @ manner as to convince all present that had he the ghost of a chance he would have rushed upon the alderman’s son and crushed him to death. “Are you going to put both these ruffians in the same cell?” asked Will. ‘‘No, no,S'master,” ‘said several gaolers; ‘they must be separated.” ‘‘Tt is a dangerous job,” one remarked, “ but, still, it must be done.” Ivan and Andy laughed loudly at this, and in scorn. It was a dangerous job. : No sooner had the gaolers unbound the two ruffians than Ivan dashed at one of his keepers, and knocked him flat to the ground with one blow, Andy attempted to do likewise, but the old alderman was mear by, and dealt him such a fearful blow with his stout staff as made the villain giddy, and reel round like a top. Ivan, however, dodged several blows made at him by the Apprentices. aay : With part of his iron chain whieh had bound him to Andy he hit right and left, Swinging it with a fearful hissing sound around him, : | ‘ | The old gaolers ran fro%n the spot like frightened hares. Will Winter, however, dealt him a blow with his sword which made the black+hearted Foyg@er fall to the ground, bleeding and foaming at the mouth aN th raze. While both were helpléss, the Apprentices thrust each into a Separate cell, aad locked the heavy doors upon them, ““Ah! there’s something like traitors,’ said the gaolers, when they had recovered breath, “None o’ yer milk and water sort, you know,” 7 as “It was well them Apprentices cooled %em down, though,” said snoleee very valvant gaoler. ‘‘ I was just running for my pistols.” ‘““So was I,” said several others, settled ’em.” = Perhaps they might ; but the truth was that they had run away for their lives, and did not much care who was hurt in the scuffle so that they themselves came off scot free, ‘‘How many more are coming, Mr. Alderman ?” “From all I hear, you had better prepare cells for half a ‘dozen others,” said-ola Singleton, when about to depart. “My ntlemen also “ We would soon have son informs me there are several titled - arrested.” “A lord or two, I hope,” saida gaoler. ‘‘ Them’s the sort of traitors I likes to tend on. Men as can smoke and drink wine, and throw their money about freely.” ‘You need not fear,” said Arthur, “they won’t have much of that here} nor you either ; but mark this, knaves, if you ill- treat Roger the goldsmith, some of you will swing for it.” CHAPTER CXXIX. THE TRAITOR’S DOOM--HAPPY CHANGES, AND JOY TO TH DESHRVING—“‘ NONE-BUT THE BRAVE DESERVE THE PATR.” No ONE was more surprised than Harl Percy himself at the suddenness with which the Spy had acted, and how he had managed to ferret ont many important secrets of the Forgers. How he did it no one knew, but since he had received his commission from the King he set to work at his task with all swiftness, and the true instinct of a ferret. Who he was, of course no one then knew ; but several days subsequent to the arrest of Ivan, Andy, Morton, Sir Giles and Sir Humphrey, he was sent for by the king, who in the presence of Harl Percy, thus spoke to him,— “ Gilbert, if such be your real name, I cannot sufficiently thank you for all you have done in unravelling this plot and mystery. How you have gained so. much information in so short a time puzzles us all.” Gilbert smiled and bowed, as he said, “Gilbert, sire, is only an assumed name. I am called the ‘Ferret’ by those who know me best, and by no other name, Thave long watched Ivan’s doings, and also those of Blue- Jacket and his band, but they knew ‘me not. Blue-Jacket, IVAN THE TERRIBLE, whatever his fanlts, sire, has been true to you, and his loyalty . I doubt not, will find favour in your sight,” the Ferret added. “ Why, it is reported that he is young Lord Blackwater,” said the King. . “And such I believe to be the case,” the Ferret replied. ‘‘Were it not for him, and more especially for Will Winter and his band of London Apprentices, I fear we should never have been able to undo in so short atime all that has been planned and arranged by the traitors.” | “From all you have found out, Gilbert, are you sure that Michael the Clothworker was murdered by Ivan and his band ?”’ “ There cannot be a doubt of it, sire. hearing I have heard them confess it.” “ Indeed !” “ Yes, sire ; they little dreamed when I mixed among them, dressed as they were, that I was nought else but a spy.” “You must have acted your part well, Gilbert, among them.” “That I have done so I will let Earl Percy say, your majesty.” “ Both in face, change of dress, language, and manners, sire, I never saw one that could equal him. I thought, and have often flattered myself, that I could imitate all sorts of persons, and the like, but Gilbert, here, I believe, can so well counterfeit men amd mauners that he could personate the dévil himself,” the earl remarked. . The king smiled, and said, “But who is-this old man, who hasbeen prowling about old Roger the Goldsmith’s house?” . “No one can ascertain, sire,” said the earl, ‘* Not even you, Gilbert ?” “No, your majesty. Much depends upon finding him ; but up to the present moment, all our endeavours have been in vain.” “Ts Roger guilty, think yon?” “ Appearances are against him, and in a court of law he would be condemned purely on circumstantial evidence.” “And yet, sire, I cannot think that old Roger is guilty,” ‘paid the earl. “Nor I, my lord; but as the “case will be tried to day, it depends upon the wisdom and discretion of the ‘jury to say whether he be guilty or not.” _ ‘Are all the principal eomspirators arrested, sire?” asked ‘the earl. = “Yes, my tord, the Jast accounts ‘that came to me so in- fornred me, and the trials.are mow proceeding. ” “ Ts there no fear of the Porgers rising ?” the earl asked. “No,” said the king, “‘ Thave so mweh faith and confidence in the London Apprentices, that at their own request I have — allowed them the liberty to guard the gaols and court room.” “Tf Will Winter be in chief command, sire,” said the Ferret, “there ts no fear that any rescue will be attempted,”’ “Tf it % attempted it cannot succeed,” said the king. “I have ordered my own household troops to be in instant readi- ness, in case the Apprentices are attacked,” At that moment a messenger arrived. ‘What news from the court-house ?” “ Tvan has been tried, and found guilty, sire.’ * And, Andy, his accomplice ?” ** Guilty likewise, sire.” ‘* What have they proved against Morton ?” ‘ Ivan has confessed all |” “Ah!” \ “Yes, sire, and he clearly proves the puilt not only of Morton, but also that of Sir Giles and SirHamphtey” “But the word of a convicted traitor is not sufficient,” said the king, “they are well defended by able council, and, I fear me, will escape.” r “That cannot be, sire; the. testimony of 4 new “witness,” . said the messenger, “has more than doubly proved their treason.” : “ And who is this unexpected witness, messenger ?” asked the king, with renewed = co | ‘‘ Arthur Singleton, sire, tne UU 1 time in Holland, and knows all abo For even in my own ‘ boo 6 plot.*