Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE capacious mouth, and large, horny hands, and a long, lank | figure, attired in rusty black. This is Judge Jefferies, from his cruelties surnamed “ The Butcher.” Next to him sits an insipid, dandified individual, who is eternally stroking his moustache, taking snuff out of a jewelled box, or ostentatiously playing with a spaniel on his lap. This is Count Montini, ambassador from Louis XIV., of France, a monareh who pretended to take vast interest in the welfare of King James. This gentleman was frequently admitted to the councils of the king. The last individual was Lord Rochester, an elegant and accomplished personage, who seemed half asleep during the entire sitting, but who, nevertheless, was no less an important functionary than minister for foreign affairs. After some conversation the king observed, _“T find that the disaffection of my subjects is increasing. My son-in-law, the Prince of Orange, hath many vile emissaries in the land who are sworn to overthrow our throne, and, despite our utmost endeavours, despite every exertion of my ministers and spies, they are unable to fathom the bottom of this wide-spread conspiracy against us. Jefferies, the “‘ Butcher,’ shook his head and sighed, but cast a furtive glance at young Churchill, as much as to say, **T should like to have the pleasure of hanging you, Master Thomas, fine young soldier as you are, and then, perhaps, there would not be so much disloyalty afloat,” The young soldier did not heed the king’s remarks, but, _ after his majesty had consumed full half an hour in talking of affairs of State, rose with the rest, and was about to leave the council when the king remarked, “And now, gentlemen, having instructed you to the best of my power, let us hope that you will ferret out all those who are plotting against us. As for myself, I shall, in future, do what I have never hitherto done—namely, I shall take it upon myself to unravel the strange rumours and plots that have reached us of late. For the present, then, gentlemen, adieu |” The four gentlemen had scarce departed, when James, biting his lips in vexation, walked the apartment to and fro, as if undecided how to act or what to do. , He touched a silver bell. The curtains that hid the folding doors were drawn aside, and a stranger, muffled and disguised, noiselessly entered, It was the king’s private and confidential Spy !” James threw himself negligently into an arm-chair, and beckoned the Spy to approach. He did so with a firm and noble step, There was some- thing in his carriage at once fearless and courageous. He did not unmask himself even before the king ; neither did he doff his hat and plumes nor cloak ! With a sword at his side, he stood before the monarch like one who felt that he had few equals, if, indeed, any superiors, in the world! And there was something about him, such an ease and grace of manners, that seemed to assure one that had he unmasked himself his featires would have been in striking keeping with the whole of his elegant and almost feminine exterior. . “What news?” asked the king. “She is there again. I saw her at the usual rendezvous in the park, unattended.” ‘“ Again?” said the king, in surprise. ‘‘ Nay, there is some meaning for these frequent visits. Have you inquired further into the movements or objects of this mysterious female ?” ‘T have not, your majesty,’ was the masked stranger’s calm reply. “I simply followed your directions, sire, and have come to report in person,” ‘Can I safely trust myself out at this lone hour?” asked the king. ; “The park is deserted, your majesty ; the moon is out, and the air is balmy. Two attendants will be all sufficient.” “Tis welll You may depart,” said the king. The spy bowed, and noiselessly left the apartment. — The king, all impatience to know who this beautiful girl might be, and anxious to form some reason for her frequent TERRIBLE. nightly, lonely visits to the park, determiiied at once to set forth upon the adventure, Calling up Lord Tippler and Lord Summers, two very sleepy lords in waiting, James set forth upon his setret expedition. “Night after night hath my Spy reported the :ame thing,” mused the king, as he threw a cloak about lis 3noulders, and prepared to depart. “What means all this? a lovely girl alone in the park at this lone hour, and with eyes ever turned towards the palace. There is some mystery that I must fathom,” said King James. “ In these times of conspiracy and robbery this frail but beautiful girl may be able to disclose to me secrets beyond all price ; I will away at once.” Lords Tippler and Sumniers did not by any means like the idea of being awakened from their snug warm beds to go on a secret expedition with the king. In secret they cursed and swore very loudly against it, but in the pre§ence of the king they bowed and scraped, of course; with the utmost obeisance and humility. “Are you armed, my lords?” asked the king, buckling on his sword. — “Armed!” said the two old lords, with looks of comical surprise, ‘‘surely your august majesty will not endanger your royal person by any personal encounter.” “Are you armed, Jack?” repeated the king, jocosely ad- dressing Tippler, with much emphasis, while in tones of sarcastic command he added, “ You are noi afraid, I hope?” “Afraid! Oh; lor! bless your majesty! No, we are not afraid; we can face anything, ever the devil himself,” said my lord Tippler, shaking in every li:nb. *“Then follow me,” said the king, whic, as the brother of Charles the Second, partook somewhat of that monarch’s love of adventure and fondness for beatity in women. Leaving the palace by 4 secret side door hé proceeded to the park, accompanied by the two timorous lords, who, it must be confessed, did not by any means admire the wild freak of the king, although they spoke not nor whispered against it. The park was deserted, the moou shone forth with unusual. brilliancy, and the air was calm and balmy. At the eid of an avenue of gigantic trees the king per- ceived a solitary figure pacing up and down in the silvery moonlight | He beckoned his attendants to retire while he himself went on alone. The king with great caution advanced unperceived towards the unknown female, and stood behind a tree. “Alas, Blue Jacket will not come to-night,” she sighed, and sat herself down on a rustic seat, “How many dangers have I not gone through to guide and warn him !” The young creature who thus sighed and spoke was rather below the middle height ; but even the cloak that she wore, and in the ample folds of which she was carefully wrapped up, could not conceal the elegance and faultless symmetry of her form. One hand, as it just appeared holding the folds of her cloak, was of dazzling whiteness and childlike beauty, and on her fingers sparkled diamond rings of great value. But little could be seen of her face in that shadowy chang. ing moonlight, yet that little was of so much sweetness, 27 intelligence and beauty that it was a delight to gaze upon. Dark, sparkling, hazel eyes gave quick intelligence to her features ; a stray curl or two of rich glossy hair, which, hang- ing down about her cheeks and shoulders, added fresh charms to the beauty of that young and rare specimen of surpassing loveliness, From his place of concealment behind the old oak tree the king had a long and full view of the beautiful and mysterious young creature, who, as he knew, unattended, had often fre- quented the park at that unusual and lonely hour. Her lovely figure and enchanting features quite captivated him, and he determined, at all hazards, to know something of her, cost what it might. Beckoning his friends to stay where they were and not to approach nearer, he suddenly advanced towards the rustic bench, and threw himself upon his knees before the beautiful maiden, CORMIClooolkxs.con