Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

46 IVAN THE CHAPTER XXIV. THE LONG GALLERY—THE TIPSY COURTIER—LORD SUMMERS IS SURPRISED IN HIS CUPS—HIS AWFUL FRIGHT—THE CONSPIRATORS EXPLORE A WING OF THE PALACE—iVAN IS CALLED UPON TO FULFIL OLD DREADNOUGHT’S SECRET MISSION, THEY whispered together for a moment in secrecy. His com- panions perceived that in the bosom of his coat was something very heavy that he endeavoured in part to conceal, but could not, for the handle of it projected far below his short cloak, and it was palpable to all, that whatever-it might be, it was deemed of the utmost importance to carry about and bring with him, or otherwise he would not have so burdened himself, Not one of the band, however, knew anything positive of the work that was intended to be done, save the Sorcerer and Ivan the Terrible, After the old man had whispered to Ivan for a moment or two, he said, ‘““ Come ! follow me !” Leading the way with the utmost caution, and a noiseless cat-like step, Dreadnought at length reached the door of another apartment. At that closed door the old man paused. Above the door was a wooden bracket, and upon it burned a small silver lamp, whose rays were faint and flickering. The pale and sickly light fell upon the countenance of Dreadnought, and showed that he was much paler and thoughtful than usual, and that round his eyes there were strange livid-looking circles, that betrayed the intense conflict that was passing in the soul of that strange, mysterious, grim, and ghastly-looking oldman, — But the truth was that he had a secret mission to fulfil in the palace that night, that those who followed him as obedient and willing slaves never dreamed of, for, at the most, they thought that he came there but to rob the Red Room of royal gems and jewels, Holding up his long lean hand as a signal for his followers to stop, he now placed his ear to the panel of the door, and listened attentively with wild-looking eyes. For some moments he listened, but no sounds were heard, . and he was about to turn the handle of the door and enter, when a strange low laugh was heard, The old man slightly started, and his hand trembled, “‘ Hush-sh-sh !” he whispered, as some one of his followers ventured to approach. ‘‘ Hush-sh-sh! this must be one of those that the old frightened lord whined about when in terror of our steel.” All was still as death again for a few moments, and then the same old odd laugh was repeated for a second time. It did not require much skill or divination on the old man’s part to determine whence or from whom the noise proceeded, as it echoed through the spacious and lofty apartment, for old Dreadnought felt assured that it came from the lips of some half-tipsy fellow, some stray courtier, or officer of the palace, who had been enjoying himself hugely alone, and at the king’s expense. The truth was that the person who laughed was one of the king’s companions, and had been thus left alone over the re- mains of an elegant supper while the king and Tippler had gone forth into a distant apartment to hood-wink and ruin the beautiful Leonora, Never a very temperate or sober man at any time, this in- dividual, who was none other than my Lord Summers, had commenced to while away the moments of the king’s and his boon companion’s absence by paying court to sundry very old, dusty, and cobwebbed bottles of wine. The effect of this his assiduous court to the sherry and port was, that while affairs were progressing, and had taken such an unlooked-for and serious turn to the king and his late companion, my lord had drank himself into a very complete state of obliviousness and intoxication. There he sat in his easy chair, with a well-filled glass in hig hand, with a comical expression upon his face, his hat cocked on one side, and his heels perched on the table, hiccupping all manner of strange and absurd things, - TERRIBLE. Dreadnought was not long in arriving at a correct opinion in regard to the state of the individual in the room, whoever or whatever he might be, at the door of which he had paused and peeped, After 2 moment’s thought, he whispered, ‘Keep the door from closing, so that at a word from me you can be able to enter the apartment, For the present I will go alone.” Placing his hand upon the handle of the lock, the grim gaunt old man opened the door, and stalked noiselessly into the room. Several wax candles lighted this apartment, and a good fire lent an air of comfort to it. It was elegantly, nay, luxuriously furnished, and upon a table drawn somewhat close to the fire was a goodly collection of bottles, decanters, glasses and the like. Gold and silver vessels, dishes, and ornaments were strewn about the table in profuse confusion, so that all in the room had a decided air of comfort and conviviality. My well-contented, red-faced, and bloated lord sat snugly in his capacious chair, and rolled his sleepy, drunken eyes — about in a half dreamy and ludicrous manner, while, with a cracked voice, he tried to sing, ‘‘ Wine, good wine, is the best of things— It drowns all sorrows, what joy it brings ; Then give me a bottle, and raise the glass, We’ll drink and drink to a loving——”’ “Hh !—Oh, d——n it! I forget the rest, “¢ We'll drink and drink toa “ Oh, what an ass lam! cupped. ‘“ Well, no matter. If his majesty and Tippler won’t sit down like good and exemplary Christians to the best wine in the world, why, then, I’ll do all the honours myself.” Old Dreadnought advanced unseen and unheard to the centre of the apartment, and folding his long, bony arms, gazed at the muddled and thoroughly befuddled courtier. “ Any (hic) man,” continued my lord, sipping his wine, “as don’t know when (hic) he’s got quite (hic) enough is a (hic) beast, that’s my (hic) opinion, and (hic) I don’t care a (hic) — d——n who (hic) knows it !” After giving this very elaborate opinion, he continued, ** Oh, life is short, but let’s be folly, While fools bewail our cares and folly, For wine give courage, and wine gives——” My lord ‘suddenly saw the gaunt, grim figure of Dread- nought, whose stony eyes were staring at him with an im- passable and passionless-looking gaze, “Th! dey——” ‘‘ Silence !’”? growled the old man, sternly, ‘Kh! what, that is a “Silence, I say, on peril of your life!” was the solemn response, “Silence ! (hic) upon my (hic) life, eh? Well, well, come (hic) come, that isn’t bad, upon my (hic) soul! I know you, my boy (hic), you can’t take me (hic) in. You are a capital — actor, most august (hic) sire. Well, upon my (hic) life, if I didn’t know you were having alittle bit of (hic) fun with me, I should just imagine that (hic) the place was haunted, and that the (hic) room was going round and round. Capital, by (hic) Jove !” . ) The grim old man took a step backwards and motioned to those who were at the door, In a second they entered like a party of spectres, and glided noiselessly across the room, Dreadnought pointed his long, lean, bony finger at my Lord Summers, who, with mouth wide open, and his eyes glaring from their sockets, sat in his chair, mute, amazed, and thunderstruck. “Stop (hic), stop! Come, come (hic), gentlemen, a joke’s a joke, you know. am,” Before he could utter another word he was surrounded, COT COMIGDOOKSEhGEOMm My memory is addled,” he hic- © What—why, who are you, in the name of the © I'm not (hic) drunk if you think I’(hic) ———————— - . ——