Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

» IVAN THE * They cannot have removed it,” said he. “Removed it! Ha! ha!” Ivan laughed, “ you don’t mean to say yo imagine they have removed a Secret Cabinet, made of solid lead, and weighing seyeral tons? It isn’t a snuff-box, mind ye,” “This is no time for laughter or jokes, Ivan,” the old man growled, ‘ The greatest treasure of all is lost.” - “Lost? Nay, how can it be lost, when by your magic you can discover it?” =~ “True,” said the old man; moment.” | So saying, the old man knelt upon the floor and described a eircle around him with his finger. “Now sound the walls, Ivan,” he said. “you are right. Wait one Doing as he was bidden, Ivan sounded the four walls ; but. this gave no token of the missing treasure, for the walls were of solid masonry, and covered with thick cloth-paper. The old man again knelt upon the floor, and described a circle around him, ~ _ “Sound the walls again, Ivan,” he said, calmly, solemnly, and slowly. “I have sounded them onee,” Tvan replied, grufily. “Sound them again, I command you, slave!” said the old TERRIBLE. 55 man, in a hissing tone of voice, while his eyes shot forth’ an angry flame. Awed by the old man’s mysterious powers, and trembling at his heart at Dreadnought’s look of nnearthly and fierce re- venge, he again sounded the walls. : Nought but a solid sound was heard, For tke third time the old man.,bent low to the floor, and described a magic circle around him; .at-the same time muttering strange words to himself. “Strike the wall,” he calmly, slowly said. Tvan lifted the hammer, and held it high above his head. He paused, - ; : The palace clock slowly tolled the hour, and its echoes fell with melancholy -cadence. upon the ear, while on’ a sudden the lights were blown out, : _ “$trike, slave! strike !’’ the old man growled once more. Filled with strange awe, and feeling as if he was about to witness some strange sight, Ivan struck the wall for the third time. * On the instant a secret door flew open ! . A bright blue light streamed forth from the Hidden Cabinet, with unearthly splendour. To be continued, .THE GHOSTS HOUSE IN THE LONELY ROAD. (Continucd from page 48.) —— Lying in concealment, he saw the stranger pass through the apartinent in which he was then standing; for a moment he hesitated whether he should not spring forward and seize him, but being unarmed, his opponent would lave the advantage of hiw, so prudence forbid the action. As Frederick surmised, the stranger made for a chamber in close proximity to the spot where he was hiding. A gentle tap, and the door was opened to receive him, and heentered the room, The surprise of Frederick was now augmented when he per- ceived, standing by his side, the strange guest who had danced with Lady Edgeworth. He still wore the vizard and fantastic dress as in the ballroom. wr F i T am true tomy appointment. I come to point out to you your uty. As he spoke he seized Frederick in his icy grasp. ** What hand is this that has taken mine ? My heart throbs with alarm ; my eyes involuntarily turn, assured that they will fix on the assassins of my friend.’ ‘* Why this agitation ?” said the strange guest, calmly. ‘The remembrance of a greadful crime, a dastard murder !’* *€ You have sworn to avenge the victim.” ** And with heaven’s aid | will keep my oath!” ‘* The bloodspillers ‘live unpunished.” *€ Ag yet they do.”’ “‘ You know them,” continued the strange guest, as two glassy orbs peered from the sable coyering that concealed his iace. ‘* My suspicions are confirmed ; where are the murderers ?” *€ Beneath this roof and in yonder chamber !” As the strange guest spoke, he pointed to the door through which the previous stranger had passed. It was Tony Foster, and he and Lady Edgeworth were now the only occupants of the apartment that had been indicated. The rays of the morning sun gleamed on Frederick, imparting as it were a token of confidence and peace. The strange guest then seemed satisfied, and stealthily departed. The officer turned to look upon his fleeting form; as he did so the mask that had con- cealed his features, fell; the garb dropped, and Manetho fora moment hovered to bid his pupil adieu, a ’ -_-_eoOoO CHAPTER IX. THE NOISE IN THE SECLUDED PAVILION. WHEN Frederick entered the chamber, the surprise of its occupants muy be better described than imagined. ‘Their perfidy and guilt being disclosed, Lady Edgeworth hastily quitted the apartment, leaying Tony to carry out his nefarious design. ' A handkerchief, impregnated with chloroform was passed before the face of Frederick, who, stupified by the powerful agent, was held in subjugation by his foe, who seemed as by a spell to have controul over his every action. Tlie young officer, by a creat effort, endeavoured to throw off the effects of the inhaled fluid, and gave a convulsive attem pt at respiration, but Tony prevented anything like a recovery by applying the phial that contained the chloroform to his nostrils, and Frederick fell senseless at his feet. #3," 1 _‘ He will be safé at least for some hours,” said Tony, as he locked his prisoner in the chamber, and proceeded rapidly to the pavilion at the end of the Manor House garden, to which spot the readér must now follow his footsteps, | | In the pavilion was s2creted Adah Latimer. ; She had been drawn hither by astratagem devised by Tony Foster: Being an adeptin the art of caligraphy, he had forged aletter in the handwriting of Frederick Edgeworth, requesting her to meet that officer and provide herself with all the documents necessary for the establishment of her innocence, and those that would reinstate her in her former rank and possessions, . Adah had fallen into the snare, attended the summons,: and now | waited in expectation at the appointed rendezvous. ; rom the window of her retirement ‘slie surveyed the ‘garden expansive prospect, and broad domain that were in reality her own inheritance, Asshe gazed, her eye grew dim, and in seeming anxiety she communed with herself. ‘““How heavy the moments linger till I embrace Frederick ! Some preparation was necessary, be said, since he feared violent emotion might endanger my future safety. His precaution was necessary, for these papers reveal the treac lery and crimes of my persecator, though my son has been spared his safferinzs and her cruelties. I cannot think without awe of the perfidious Job Foster who, ina spirit of revenge, substituted the offspring of Catharine Edgeworth for that of the unfortunate Adah, and that her perse- cution fell upon her own child instead of mine.”? » & As the bewildered woman was thus meditating, a noise fell upon her ear, and she discovered that a key was being placed in the lock of the door Jeading to her apartment Trembling —danger cried, “© Frederick said he would knock three times, and told me not: to open unless he did so. Can hesuspect—ah I’ ; This exclamation on the part of Adah was occasioned by the en- trance of Tony Foster, who at once advanced towards her. e+ uae Oe tata come pene erect as usual, though the nward struggle he ha o | depicted in his wodbeniitiee? : beds | RRCSTEOUS « Wet He still maintained his dogged and morose mien malignant smile on the startled wild, and his gesture sarcastic, seemed to arise before her as she feebly He cast a. female, but his exhilaration was (COMIC OOOKS. CON