Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 30: what you’re looking at

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26 IVAN THE ‘Thee mun be dreaming, lod,” said one of them to the sleepy stable-boy, ‘‘ for Z don’t hear no wheels.” “That may be,” the boy replied, “‘ but if Idon’t hear swmmat Tll be hanged.” ‘‘Then thon’lt sure be hung,” was the rejoinder, ‘for my ears is as quick as thine, and JZ don’t hear nowt.” At that moment, however, there were sounds that caught the ears of all there present, but not of coach wheels. “T told thee so,” said the stable-boy, in triumph, “I told thee I hearn summat,” pointing down the road. At that moment two horsemen were descried galloping towards London at a gallant pace, and as they approached the village inn they could be heard laughing loudly at one an- other’s jokes and conversation. ‘‘ Hillo, my lads !’’ said one of the horsemen, in a merry tone, “np so late? Can’t we get a drop of brandy, or something of that kind? We have come far, and must hurry into London as quickly as possible on important business.” ‘‘ Well, if thee knocks, maybe thou’lt wake the landlord, and, as this is near the coach time, he’ll give thee what thee wants, maybe.” , The strangers dismounted from their steaming horses, and the first one loudly knocked at the door, which was soon opened by the crusty, half-sleepy landlord. One of the grooms took a whisp of straw, and rubbed the horses down, and shortly afterwards the two strangers, having had some refreshment, came out of the inn, remounted their horses, and tossing the ostlers a crown or two, galloped away again, ‘‘They be rayther generous,” said one of the stablemen, ‘‘-we don’t earn a crown so easily every day, matey, eh ?” “ Didst thee notice the young’un ;” said another, ‘* Why, he looked like a girl ; I shouldn’t wonder if she isn’t one, and dressed in men’s clothes, and running away with her sweet- heart; ha! ha!” “Tf that be so, then,” said a third, fwe may soon expect to see the father or brothers pursuing on ‘em, and earn another crown, likely.” The two strangers had not left the inn more than twenty minutes ere some half dozen jaded horsemen were seen ap- proaching, ; “‘ By joye, here ts the fayther and brothers,’ said one of the grooms, laughing, ‘‘ now I'm swe he were a runaway lass, In a few moments the horsemen pulled up in front ef the inn. “ Have ye seen anything o’ the ‘ Eclipse,’ gentlemen,” asked one of the stablemen, “ it is much beyind time, and we're anxious about un.” ‘‘ Behind time,” said one, with a sly grin, ‘!I should think it was! and good reason too | It has been stopped and robbed, the traces cut, and the coach turned over! I think it %s behind time, rayther, and likely to be.” “Robbed and pitched over !” groaned the groom, in mute but comical astonishment. ‘Yes, ye need not stare so, but rouse the landlord, get out some old coach, and go down the road about five miles and pick up the frightened passengers.” ** Not me !” ‘ Nor me !” said one and another, shaking their heads, * You don’t catch me having a bullet in my head—not me.” ‘‘ But who did it, master ?’”’ asked one, ' ‘¢ That’s ow business. Ask no questions, but answer me,” said one, who was none other than ‘‘ Bill Barry,” the noted detective, ‘‘ has any one passed here to-night ?” ‘‘ Yes, truly, two gents on horseback, about haf-hour ago,” “ Had one a very feminine appearance ?” ‘No; but one on ’em looked unkimmon like a runaway school miss, wi’ long curly hair |” answered a groom. ‘¢ And the other ?” “ What him as giv us a couple o’ crowns? Oh, /e looked more like a gentleman than any we've seed to-night, didn’t he, mates ?” ““ Aye, truly, lads,” ‘« And a fine dashing-looking fellow he was too, fit for any girl i’ England,” ‘‘ Those must be they then, gentlemen,” said Barry, ‘‘ we have given them a good chase, but I didn’t think that they TERRIBLE, would have the audacity to stop and rob a coach 80 hear © London.” “‘ Oh, Blue Jacket and his lass, that can break out of a Cornwall gaol, built of solid rock, can do anything,” said one of those in pursuit. ‘ Blue Jacket and his lass!” exclaimed the ostler, with looks of astonishment, ‘“‘ you dunna mean that ?” | ‘‘ Yes but we do, though,” said Bill Barry, “ and ’twas well you treated him civilly, 1 can tell you, or he might have sent a leaden compliment through your head.” ‘6 Oh, thank ’ee |” “ Oh, lor !” said the other, grinning seriously. “ Come, gentlemen,” said Barry, “they have not beaten us much in time, our horses are fresher than theirs, and if we don’t overtake them before they get into town, we shall surely find them, for I know all their haunts, yes every one in all London,” : So saying, Bill Barry and the other officers in pursuit of Blue Jacket and Nelly Lovedale, partook of some refresh- ments, and started on for London. Whether Bill Barry, the great detective, really did know all the haunts in London will quickly appear, CHAPTER XIV, THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE KING—FIVE DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS—CHURCHILL, JEFFERIES, ROCHESTER, AND MONTINI—FOUL TREASON ABRQAD—TRAITORS IN HIGH PLACES—ENTRANCE OF THE ROYAL SPY—HIS STRANGE REVELATIONS—THE NIGHT ADVENTURE IN THE PARK— THE RENDEZYOUS—THE UNKNOWN FEMALE THAT HAUNTS THE PALACE GROUNDS — TWO VERY VALIANT LORDS THE KING DETERMINES TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY—BLUE JACKET’S FRIEND —THE KING I$ DISCOVERED AND THWARTED, THus far hath our story progressed, and save introducing a few of the characters that are to figure therein, we have mentioned but little of King James the Second, and of the stirring incidents of his exciting reign, and of the plots, schemes, counter-plots and treachery which resulted in his flight from the throne, and in which exciting adventures our prin- cipal characters have to play important and deep soul-stirring parts. It may be briefly stated, then, that James the Second was particularly obnoxious to his people, through persevering in a false and unnational home and foreign policy, and that many, if not most of the nobles of the land, were secretly in favour of a change. => =" Mary, the eldest child of King James, the reigning monarch. Having thus very briefly premised the unsettled state of affairs in England, proceed we with a truthful and plain history of the exciting scenes and changes of that most momentous period in English history, * * * * * * The scene opens in Kensington Palace; the time is near midnight, In a large and spacious chamber, furnished with regal splendour, are five thoughtful persons seated round a green baize council table in deep deliberation on the affairs of the nation, He who sits at the head of the table—a quiet, grave, thoughtful man, with large lace collar and rufiles, pointed » beard and milk-white hands—is the king himself, Pg At his right sits a bold, handsome, youthful and braye- looking gentleman, who is evidently a dashing soldier, sharp- witted and deep. This is young Thomas Churchill, who was once only a simple page in the royal household, but who, through valour, perseverance and vaulting ambition, had be- come a great soldier and splendid leader under the name of Lord Churchill, afterwards to become world-famous under the name of the Duke of Marlborough, oxi. On the king’s left hand sits a hang-dog-looking individual with short, stumpy, carrotty hair, small, twinkling, restless, malicious, mischief-making eyes, thin, bloodless lips, a large, Eomicbooksrxeom