Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

48 THE GHOST’S CHAPTER VIII. THE GHOST IN THE BALL-ROOM—DEATH’S MASQUE. A GOODLY company of some of the most illustrious families in England, each vying with the other in the splendour of their habiliments and the courteous mystery of their devices, were shortly to be assembled at the masked ball given by Lady Edgeworth at her palatial residence at Dartford. Towards the tenth hour of ‘evening the carriages of the invited began to rumble rapidly over the old stone bridge that led to the Manor House, and scarcely giving time to their occupants to glance at the reflection of the town lights now faintly pictured in its ancient stream, the river Darent. From the dancing-room, teeming with the most graceful images of taste and fancy, crowded with sparkling coronets and radiant lustre whirling in the mazy dance, two of the maskers, Lord Sydney and Sir Herbert Grant, retired to an apartment of lofty and ample elegance to partake of refreshment and concentrate their wisdom on a game of chess. ‘I am surprised,” said Sir Herbert, sipping an ice, *‘ that Ijhave seen nothing of Frederick on this auspicious——” ‘* He has not yet arrived from London, whither he started this afternoon.” ' ‘‘That’s strange, seeing that this féte was given expressly by Lady Edgeworth in honour of his approaching marriage with your sister Amabel. You will pardon a remark I am about to make, but I am urged by a lively interest in the lady’s happiness in doing so.”’ “¢ Herbert, you have ever possessed my esteem,” replied Sydney, ** my confidence.” *‘ And you shall never have reason to repent that confidence,” continued Herbert, ‘‘so I will speak without reserve. Since my acquaintance with Frederick I have had every desire to honour and respect him, but his absence at this moment is so singular that I fear my suspicions are too true.” “You surely do not mean to cast an aspersion on his honour ?” ‘By no means. Had he lived in the knightly ages Frederick would certainly have become the mirror of chivalry, an admirable Crichton, a hero without fear, without reproach. He might pos- sibly—— , This is perplexing me, Herbert,” interrupted Sydney. ‘‘ Bring your tale to a close without further preface. A little pleasurable excitement is necessary for me at times, but what people call an agreeable surprise I detest.’ ‘© Well, then, I will come to the point at once; but before I do so pass me the bottle, it stands with you.” “The wine,’’ said Sydney, impatiently. ‘Yes, wine by all means, as I’m going to encounter spirits presently.” The beverage had hardly touched the lips of Herbert when Frederick hastily and abruptly entered the room. “* Ab, Sydney, is that you?” exclaimed Frederick, abstractedly. ‘© T am very remiss in not noticing you, but the events of the day have a engrossed my mind that infact Iam almost a stranger to myself.”’ rp You are ill,”’ said Herbert, and the baronet spoke truly, for, since their Jast meeting, the appearance of Frederick had greatly altered, while a spirit of uneasiness seemed to prey upon his soul. His complexion was pale, but ever and anon.tinged with a hectic flush, which brightened the lustre ot his animated eye. A deep melancholy was painted on his marble brow, and seemed, by its weight, to bear him to the earth. ““T have travelled hard,’ replied he, in answer to Herbert’s question, ‘‘ and the journey has fatigued me. I should not have attempted it but that I remembered to-night was Amabel’s re- ception, and that my absence on such an occasion could be construed only as neglect to one I love dearer than my life. But we are dis- turbing gaiety by unpleasant observations. Shall we not join the lively throng ?”’ Frederick rose to quit the room, and his friends were struck with the rapidity with which he turned from his late pensive mien to a perfect show of cheerfulness. As they were about to depart, Sydney casually remarked, ** By-the-bye, Frederick, I miss one whom of all others I ex- pected to find among your assembled friends.” ** Indeed, and who is that?’ said the young officer, without thought. ** The Doctor Manetho.” _The unlooked-for and sudden remark for the moment left Frede- rick in a state of stupefaction, while unthinkly the words stole out, ‘7 have seen him.” ** Indeed; where ?” ‘* Not far distant from this spot—in the ball-room.” A voice echoed in the ear of Frederick the word ‘‘ Silence !”’ This observation was followed by the entrance of a personage dressed in dark habiliments and masked. HOUSE IN THE LONELY ROAD. ‘< Who can he be?” said Sydney to his friends, but neither were able to reply to the question. ‘© Tf one may judge from his mouldering garments and unearthly aspect,” cried Herbert, ‘‘it appears to me that the visiter is not of mortal mould, and knowing Frederick’s predilection for the super- natural has favoured him with his ipreseice to enliven the revel.” ‘¢ Spare your sarcasms, Sydney, I have received a fearful warning, and this is——” Without finishing the sentence Frederick turned deathly pale ; the uninvited guest had raised his mask and disclosed his features ; his finger pressed upon his lip betokened silence, and he vanished as he had appeared in a portentous stillness. ‘¢ Your jests are out of season,” replied Frederick, testily. ‘‘The gentleman you have thought proper to remark upon has now left the room, and with his departure I trust all conversation respecting him will cease.” ‘© With all my heart,’ said Sydney, who ever made allowances for the impetuosity of Frederick. ‘‘ We were about to indulge in a game of chess; but since you have joined us we will have cards.” “You will excuse me, dear Sydney, my mind is at present dis- traught, I cannot play——”’ ‘*Then drink,” rejoined Herbert, ‘* wine makes glad the heart of man, and causes bim to reason like a philosopher. When I am sad I find a specific in the bottle ; an you love me try the remedy.” Frederick consented to his friend’s proposal, and the wine cup passed merrily. In the moment of excitement he endeavoured to persuade himself that the apparition was a fancy engendered by a heated brain, but the shadow of Manetho as he again appeared at the table of the revellers forbid delusion, and told him that the night must not be passed in riot and unconsciousness. * * * - * * The guests, some two hundred in number, were esjoying them- selves each according to inclination; the ball-room and adjoining saloons were crowded to overfilling, and the numerous assemblage bedecked in masquerade attire, wandered to and fro amidst music, feasting, and hilarity. As Frederick entered upon the festive scene the Lavolta, an old- fashioned waltz, was about to be commenced, and he hastened to the upper end to solicit the hand of Amabel for the same. The young lady was seated near Lady Edgeworth, and her lover fancied by the countenance of the former that something of import- ance had passed between them; she was very pale, and pleaded a sudden faintness for not dancing. | Her ladyship looked gloomy and’pensive, but there was nothing in her demeanour to show the intense anxiety which was reigning — in her breast. Soul-stirring strains issued from the orchestra; the waltz com- menced, and nothing marred the cheerfulness of the company as Frederick and Amabel retired to a festooned alcove from the giddy throng. Frederick had not long seated himself in the recess when a figure passed before him, and, raising his hand menacingly, indicated that e was about to enter the ball-room. Amabel had swooned at the sight of the spectral form and in endeavouring to withdraw her lover from a pursuit, if not hopeless, at least, hazardous. Placing her fainting form on a couch, he mechanically followed in the footsteps of the phantom. The music was inspiring, the dancing at its height, and the waltzers whirling in quick rotation as Frederick descried Lady Edgeworth among the motley group bounding like the wild roe with her waist encircled by the arm of the very stranger he had so lately encountered. To add to the astonishment and in some cases awe of the spectators a terrific night-storm came on at the same time as they witnessed the strange proceeding of their hostess; flashes of light- ning more than commonly vivid shot through the heavens, while appaling peals of thunder accompanied by torrents of rain broke overhead. This served as an incident to put an end to the ball, and the guests in darkness and confusion took their leave in hurry, wonder, and disorder. Frederick aroused from the reverie into which he had fallen. He found the room in which an hour before had assembled high-born damsels glittering with jewels and men whose names belong to history, now entirely deserted, and, in the place of splendour, magnificence, and light, nothing but silence, gloom, and obscurity. Hastily removing a shutter to admit the beams of breaking day, he noticed a man crossing the lawn and approaching the entrance of the mansion. The singularity of his appearance induced Frederick to watch the intruder narrowly, who advanced to the portal with extreme caution, and, as if to defy scrutiny, kept his features averted from view. His observer was too bewildered to paint any hersthan -aalamitous pictures to his brain. His heart, full of disp nt, and darkness, in an instant conjectured that some evil purpose was intended to himself, or one he feared to name. coe OmiGoooksEGom