Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE “So, 80, Dreadnought !” Ivan snarled, as he wended his way - wearily homewards to his old haunts and hiding places on the south side of the river, ‘so, so, old fiend ! you have taken all away with ye, and left nought for those who did your bidding! Oh!” he growled, with a savage oath, “how it would delight me to plunge my dagger into Old Satan’s heart. And I mil/’’ he muttered, “Iam his ownalready; I cannot dye my hands redder than they are! Let him look to himself ; one of these nights he will taunt and gibe me no more.” As he walked along with two or three companions, he cast his wicked, bloodshot eyes first in one direction and then another, like some savage beast in search of prey. As they arrived near Westcheape and slunk along stealthily in the dark deep shadows of the many-gabled houses, shops and mansions which then decked that busy quarter of the city, Ivan stopped. ~ His companions did so likewise, but spoke not a word. They well knew, from the manner of their terrible leader, that he was scenting prey. That he might successfully hit upon some plan to do s0 they sincerely wished, for their pockets were out of money, and, if they returned to their companions empty-handed, they felt sure they would be heartily laughed at. Ivan, in the shadow of a tall house and perfectly hidden from view, was intently watching a large shop and mansion opposite to him, There was a light in the counting-house which occasionally was removed to and fro. Once the shadow of an old and venerable man’s head was reflected on the blind. Soon the shadow of his hand was plainly seen ! He held something in his hand which looked like a bag ! Like some feline beast in a quiet and lonely forest that smells its prey, Ivan the Terrible darted across the road, shadow-like and noiseless, He crouched low beneath the window and listened. He heard the steps of a single person move slowly to and fro. He heard that person cough—a hard, asthmatic cough it was, as of some old man. No other sounds were for some time audible. At last he heard the chink and jingle of coin. At this pleasing sound Ivan’s eyes glittered and glowed like coals of fire. He ground his teeth like a savage she-wolf. Presently locks were heard to be unfastened. Ivan signalled his companions with a low and peculiar whistle like the warning-note of some dark bird of night. His companions crossed the road one ata time, and kid themselves in the shadows of the many-gabled house. ‘“This is Michael, the cloth-worker’s house,” said Ivan, in a low, suppressed whisper. ‘‘The old man is immensely wealthy ; he is busy with his books and accounts until this late hour, and, doubtless, has much money in hand, for Michaelmas quarter-day is nigh. He has large amounts to pay away in rents, taxes and wages. I have long resolved to rob him, but the chance was never more favourable than now. I will do it.” “ Are there many men on the premises?” asked Andy. “None save his daughter Ellen and his wild apprentice, Will Winter,” was the reply. ‘We can soon dispose of him,’ answered Andrew, with an oath. ‘‘Heis our common enemy. [hate him; he is the Grand Master of the London Apprentices, and you know what they have done to us. I should like to rid ourselves of him above all men.” ‘That can be easily done. But hush-sh-sh !” said Ivan, in a warning whisper. “The old man speaks ; he is talking to himself.” At that moment Michael’s voice could be faintly heard as he muttered to himself, “Dear, dear, how aggravating it is; Ellen has been to bed many an hour, and I can’t find the keys of mysafe. Tut, tut, and that Master Will, too, that wild young devil, has left me this very night to go serenading his sweetheart and speech- making at the ’Prentices’ Guild, and at such a time as this ! Here is Michaelmas at hand, all the accounts are askew, and TERRIBLE. 61 I must leave all this money on the table till he comes home, for I know not where the key of the safe is no more than Adam. Happy it is that we live in such honest times as these, or, by my troth, rogues and thieves might rob me and bring disgrace and ruin on my name. Let him come home again, and then Master Will Winter will have a good clout o’ the head for his pains, or my name isn’t Michael, that’s all. He shan’t deceive me this time, and say he was abed and fast asleep by nine o’ the clock, for I will sit up until he does return, and then I will baste him right manfully, and report him to my Lord Mayor on the morrow. Perhaps tha¢ will cure his roaming o’ nights.”’ All was silence again. Iyan whispered to Andy, who, in turn, did likewise to another neat him, ‘“‘ Will, the apprentice, is not at home,” said Ivan. “So much the better,’ was the response. ‘We can the better rob Michael.” “Go then, Andy, take another with you, pick the lock of the front door. If the old man makes a noise ‘silenee’ him, ” said Ivan, with a wicked scowl. ‘‘While you are gone I and another will keep watch about the premises so that you be not disturbed.” For a moment all was still as death. The jingle and ring of gold coin was heard again. The evil-minded ruffians smacked their lips at this pleasant sound, andere many minutes Andrew and a companion picked the lock, and, pistol in hand, entered-the house with noiseless tread. They crept along the passage with cat-like step, and peeped through the keyhole of the counting-house door, and leisurely eyed the old clothworker, who, intent upon his books and cash accounts, never dreamed of the proximity or even possi- bility of harm. The two villains noiselessly turned the handle of the door and entered. As if forewarned by instinct of some adjacent and imme- diate danger old Michael suddenly turned his head, and to his intense horror, perceiving the two determined ruffians, uttered an exclamation of fear and alarm: Andrew instantly rushed forward, pistol in hand, and seized the old man savagely by the throat, “ Silence, on your peril !’’ he said, in a coarse and deter- mined tone. Seized as he had been by the throat Michael was unable to utter a word. He struggled manfully with the foe, however, who, afraid to raise any alarm, would not fire their pistols, but savagely beat the old man about the head and face with the stocks of their weapons until his features were all a mass of blood. He fell upon the counting-honse floor with a hollow help- less groan, perfectly insensible and powerless. With the single glance of a well-practised eye Andy sur- veyed the apartment, and instantly seized the bags of coin glittering in the lamp-light. These were rapidly passed to his companion, who in turn passed them through the passage to another one ready to re- ceive them. In less than four minutes Andy and: his companion had cleared the counting-house of all its money, and extingnuish- ing the lamp left the house by the rear, and joined Ivan and the rest. ‘“We must now away !” said Andy, much flurried with his recent hasty proceedings. ‘“ We must now away to the south side of the river, for his wife or daughter will ere long dis- cover all and raise an alarm.” ‘“‘No fear of that,” Ivan answered, gruffly. ‘“ We must not depart for the Forge yet awhile, Andy; you are too hasty and thoughtless. I thought one who had learned his trade under me,” said Ivan, with a sneer of superiority, ‘would prove a better workman.” “‘ What, then, would you have us do?” Andy testily inquired with a suppressed oath of anger. ‘What do?” said Ivan, with a sneer, ‘“ Why, hide your- selves ; secrete your booty in some safe place, and then have revenge On orr enemy,” Comicwiooksreom -