The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

296 thought had recognized her, and she could not— she dared not face his earnest gaze. What if he disclosed all she had told him about her sister’s child, and then made her father aware of all that which had been a secret for years. These were the thoughts which flashed across her mind, and she hurried from the room in fear and trembling, In less than half-an-hour Lord Rattletrap arrived, and, in private conversation, was informed by the count of all which had taken place. “A great criminal in charge of the police in another room—Jack Dingles, say you, count ?” “Yes, my lord, and a most villanous-looking rascal he is; he was born for the gallows, if ever man was, and no mistake.” ‘‘ Let me see this fellow, then, at once ; he must be committed to prison without delay.” The servants threw open the folding doors, and my lord and the count were ushered into the other room, wherein were the little magistrate, frisking and bowing as if he were dancing some jig, the criminal and the officers. “Tg this your culprit, Mr. Magistrate?” asked my lord, with a good-natured smile. “Yes, my lord; a most atrocious rascal, believe me.” : i “Oh, you are mistaken, my good little man,” said Lord Rattletrap, laughing right out. “Oh, no, my lord; beg pardon, my lord ; couldn’t be mistaken, my lord, I took him with my own hands,” Or ex “But I tell you that you are mistaken,” said my lord, laughing heartily. , “Why, this is my friend, Mr, Morris,” said my lord, shaking the prisoner by the hand cordially. “Your what, sir?” asked the little magistrate, turning pale, and very nervous in the knee joints. ‘Your what, my lord ?” | “My particular friend, Mr. Morris, of London, I repeat,” The magistrate felt as if he could have sunk into his boots, and quietly retreated into a distant corner. He would have left the room altogether, but my lord called him back, saying, | “Stay, stay, Mr. Magistrate ; if you have made a mistake, it is a very laughable one, that’s all ; and I have no doubt is enjoyed also by my friend Morris, as much as any one.” / ‘Certainly, my lord, certainly. And why not? The best of people are liable to mistakes, you know !” EG count was now introduced to Morris by my lord. But, as Morris took his hand coldly, he revolted at the touch, as he said to himself, “This person surely can’t be the intended hus- band of my lord’s only daughter? Besides, now I come to look at him closely, several of his features are much like those of the rascal, Jack Dingles. I will keep my eye upon him, Baron Duncoff, as he styles himself. ‘* Well, Morris,” said my lord, “I am glad to see you ; for, though not expected, you have arrived just in time to be present at my daughter’s wed- ding.” 1 “T have heard of it.” ‘© Oh, you have, eh? the match, Morris ?”’ “ Well, my lord, I have not any opinion on the matter, because, if you are pleased——”’ ‘Oh, certainly I am.” “ And the young lady is satisfied, why, of course, every one else ought to be.” And what do you think of THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDIS YOUNG CAPTAIN. “ Just so, Morris ; you were always a very sensible fellow.” 7 “Thank you for the compliment, my lord.” “ Although you are but a detective, Morris, you are a man of very great penetration, and should be lifted into some position in life more suitable and worthy of your talents.” Morris laughed. “Now, you see, Morris, the case stands thus, The Raron Duncoff, or. Duncow, as it is pronounced, is very rich.” ‘“‘ Indeed !” ‘“‘ And very talented.” “He looks very talented,” said Morris, with a quiet smile. ‘Comes from a very ancient family.” - “We all come from Adam,” thought Morris. “ And is desperately in love with my daughter.” ‘“‘ Have they known each other long, my lord?” ‘No, not very long, Morris. You see, last year we were travelling in Holland, and the baron fell in love with her one night at the opera; his passion was so great, he says, that it laid him on a sick bed for six months, which prevented him coming over to see her.” os ‘‘ Poor fellow |’ sighed Morris. “‘ So he introduced himself;eh?” .- “Yes ; he’s quite a bold fellow.” “ So it appears, my lord.” » . ‘© What makes you smile so, Morris ?” “Only a passing thought, my lord—a strange, fanciful idea which floated to my mind.” i. Don’t you think that the match is well made, then ?” * “No, my lord, I do not; but that is a matter which rests with you and the lady only, not a third LP My lord left the apartment, Morris was now alone. - Now, it might, at first sight, appear very strange that my Lord Rattletrap should make such a con- fidant of a common detective; but the matter is easily explained, A few years before the event now narrated, some clever villain had forged my lord’s name to several very heavy bills; but, through the activity and cleverness of Morris, the real culprit was discovered, and thus the fame and fortune of my lord were preserved. It cannot be very surprising, then, to anyone that my lord should entertain great respect for Morris, and that on every occasion that he visited the Hall he should be treated more like one of the family than a stranger. While Morris sat on the sofa alone, Lady Emma came in unobserved, and placed a hand lightly upon his shoulder, “You have been speaking to my father and have told him all, Mr. Morris?” ‘‘No, Emma, you are mistaken ; I have not.” “On your word ?” “And honour.” “Then I believe you. secret after my marriage it would not matter ; but if whispered now, the baron, being a proud, jealous- minded man, might hear of it and believe that what I had done was to screen my own guilt instead of my departed sister’s,”’ “Is this proud jealous baron very, very fond of you, Lady Emma?” “Oh, yes, Mr. Morris; he is one of the most devoted beings in existence, and I believe that my as ig at this moment would break his tender eart,” If he were told the whole. —_—_— en i2 AUG7 Eomicboo S (©)