Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE 2 How strange !” 3 But the great pity, sire, is that he is unable to say aught in favor of Roger the Goldsmith, whom every one considers 1nnocent.”’ Then he must suffer like the rest,” said the king. law must take its course.” “ All that have been arrested up to the present have been found guilty ; but there are several not yet secured.” _ “ Who are they ?” “ Dreadnought, the Sorcerer, among others, sire.” “ Leave him to me,” said the Ferret. ‘“ He cannot escape me. “But he has escaped to sea, sire, so I have heard,” the messenger said, While he spoke an usher entered the apartment, and placed a slip of paper ‘in the king’s hands, which he read on the instant. “ Admit them,” said the king. To Earl Percy’s surprise, Harry entered, followed by Darby—the latter with a black eye and swollen nose. “Who is this fellow ?—what wants he here?’ the king said, looking at Darby, in disgust. *“T will explain, your majesty,” said Harry. ‘My groom, Darby, was the one, who, single-handed, sire, secured one of the greatest traitors and impostors who ever lived. He it was who fought his way through a dozen Forgers, and secured the villain.” “‘ What is the traitor’s name ?” ‘*' Dreadnought, the Sorceror, sire.” “What! arrest the Sorceror in the midst of his friends,” “ Yes, sire, he alone did it, and secured all the crown jewels that were stolen.” et a where were you, young Percy, that you did not help im . « “T could not, sire, at that moment.” “Could not, why ?” “T was at church,” said Harry, smiling. «At church, wherefore ?”’ ~“ Getting married, sire.”’ ‘Married !” gushed the Earl. ‘ “Yes, father.” “ And to whom, pray ?”’ “To this lady, sir,” said Harry, opening the door, and ad- mitting Lizzie Ashton, radiant in white satin and blooming health. For a moment Harl Percy was taken aback, and very much annoyed ; but as the bride and bridegroom knelt at the king’s feet, his majesty beckoned thejearl, who blessed the young couple, forgave their ranaway match, and bade them be happy for the rest of their lives. “When we have time,” said the king, “ we will inquire into the character of your valiant groom, Harry.” : ‘‘T have heard of him before, more than once ; if he is worthy T will reward him, and place him in a position where his fighting qualities can be of great use to the state.” Darby bowed, and retired towards the door ; he would have left the apartment altogether, but that the king ordered him stay. e. Vhen are all these criminals to be executed ?” asked the king. , | “‘T know not,” the messenger replied ; ‘‘ but, sire, I see from the window here that another courier has just arrived in hot haste.” beat : “Then admit him,’’ said the king impatiently. ‘‘ What news, courier?” “ Important, sire.” “ What is it ? Spee quickly ; the Goldsmith ?”’ . fee has been found guilty by the jury, and despite his daughter and Sheriff Singleton’s endeavours, I fear he will ith the rest to-morrow morning. a Tbs is sad news, for in my heart I believe the old man a Say Tal do nearly all, sire, but Ivan and the rest naire ‘sworn that he is guilty, and knew of all the plots agains ou.” “ This is provoking.” “The Lamallimpatient. Whatof TERRIBLE. 267 “There is but one means of proying his innocence, sire, and that is in producin? the tattered and pilgriii-like old man, who planned with his daughter Katerina for the extra rings with the signet thereon.” “Tt would seem, then,” said the king, “that the whole secret of this foul plot in all its bearings depends on this old man.” : “Tt does, sir.” ; . ye can this mysterious stranger then. be?” the king asked. P ‘That, sire, at present is a profound secret,” ‘Can no one solve it?” ‘* No one has yet been able, sire.” ‘* Has he been traced anywhere ?” * Yes, sire.” “Ah! then all hope is not yet lost. traced to, say you ?” “Alderman Singleton, with his son Arthur, and many friends, sire, have been on the look out, and have traced him to the house of Earl Percy.” “« My house ?” said the earl, in astonishment. “ Yes, my lord,’ said the courier; “but beyond that we know nothing.” ‘This is strange,” said the king. Harry and Darby looked almost stupefied with astonish- ment. ¢ ‘‘ Who can it be?” they. muttered. While they thus spoke a servant entered with a letter, which the king first glanced over, and then read aloud. “Gentlemen,” he said, “here is a note from the mysterious old man himself. Listen— Where has he been ““« SiRE,—An attempt will be made by the Forgers to rescue the traitors to-morrow morning at the scaffold. ‘Tet Will Winter have charge of the arrangements, and all will go well. “ «Old Roger is innocent. ‘** Your humble servant, . “< THE PILGRIM.’ “We are living in strange times,” said the king ; “I would give a thousand pounds to know who this Pilgrim is. Call in Will Winter, the Chief of the London Apprentices ; I wish to see him; he is waiting without.” Will Winter appeared. ! “Know ye aught, young Master Winter, of this Pilgrim ?” “T do not, my lord, nor does any one that I have heard of ; but while conversing last night with the cloth-worker’s daughter, my late old master, who was cruelly murdered, I was accosted by him, and he told me then to attend.on you to-day ; ere I could give it a thought he had vanished from my sight. I know not where he went, but I think——” “To the palace |” said the mild yoice of one, who now ap- peared upon the scene, It was the old Pilgrim himself, “The very man,” said the king, rising in astonishment. “ How came you hither, old man, and why?” ‘To tell you, sire, that the guardian of the Red Room, who was so foully killed by Ivan, was the father of Leonora ‘Tem- pest, who to-day married Blue-Jacket.” . “Why, it was said that he once had the impudence to address my daughter Laura, sir,” said Earl Percy. “Tt was said so, Earl Percy, but it was not. true as far as that lady is concerned,” the old man replied. “ Your daughter loves another, but will not marry witbout her father’s con- rey ao Whom does she choose, old man?” the king asked, «Will Winter, sire.” “ A braver youth could not be,” said the king. « True, sire, and I consent,” said the earl, “if she so wishes it.” “She does wish it,” the Pilgrim answered, ‘‘and so does ~ Will Winter, but he is too modest to think of flying so high.” ‘No lady can be too good for him,” said Harry. ‘J will ennoble him,” said the king, “if they marry. But what other business had you in coming here, old man ?” «To deliver these signet rings into/your hands, sire, to prove to you how innocent the goldsmith is, and to ask Harl Perey GCoOmMmichdoo <SEGOI