The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. and stared rudely and pertinacioualy at Lord Raymond as he entered, until seeing that he was accompanied by Quelf the dwarf, they broke out into a loud laugh. ‘‘Ha, ha!” cried one, “here is our worthy Peter with another convert—another worshipper at the temple of Alsatia. He is as active in his attempts at conversion as Father de Sancy, our late king’s, or rather queen’s confessor ; though, Heaven save the mark ! it would be difficult to say that His Majesty did not cross himself each “TI bring one in trouble,” said Quelf, “one who wields a long sword and can use it well. None of your effeminate lovers running away from the rapier of an offended husband, but a ood stout heart, and an arm that will always raised in defence of a friend.” A cheer, half of derision, half of welcome, re- sounded through the room. “ Hark to {* cried one of the desperadoes —a«a regular fire-eating sort of individual, with huge tawny moustaches and a ferocious face, who was known as Captain Barnard Lackland— “hark to our distonted friend! One would think him the head and front of our worshipful society, the guide of our army of sworn com- ions, Truly, as he is the Prince of Dwarfs, friend may be the Prince of Outcasts,”’ “ Put aside your preaching, Sir Bally," cried Lord Raymond ; “your voice is so loud that I eannot order my liquor. Here, you there, with the owl’s face, let me have some ale, and some meat and bread, too, quickly. [Iam famishing.” The Alsatian whom he had addressed kept silence while Lord Raymond spoke, bat when he had given his order he cried, seizing the drawer by the arm, “Be careful, villain, what you bring. Our new friend has not confined you to quantity. Let us have two gallons, and of the dest, at once.” Lord Raymond knew well that in such a place as he now was to resent such an insult would simply expose him to more, and to ridicule as well. So, glad and thankful for his from his enemies, he entered into the spirit of the jest, and cried loudly to the retreating drawer, “Have a care, there! Bring ne gallons. I will not be behind this gentleman in hospitality.” “Never fear,” cried Captain Lackland, “There is no chance of the landlord’s trusting. me, I order for others; I keep peace here, an fight people’s battles ; but I never pay. That is an error I once too often committed in my youth, and I never intend to sin so far again,” * You love fighting, then ?” A smile of calm satisfaction crossed the captain's face. “Love it, sir! It is a second life to me! The bladé of a sword is my mirror—the field of battle my temple of glory—the sound of the booming cannon my music, Sir, I love fighting, women, and good liquor. Those are my weak- nesses—my three graces,” : Lord amen amiled inwardly at the manner in which the man gave out these words, His bravado was comic truly. _ And yet, with all his braggadocio, he was just the sort of big, burl whom one might fancy leading a rush of desperate baa- ditti or some body of plunderera whose object was robbery without minding the consequences —just such a ruffian as one mightexpect to find knife in hand at one’s bedside at the dead of night prepared to cut your throat to fill his own ta Cus. ‘ Yet, always plotting as he had been through life, an idea at gaa to him, homd sad is man, careless, perate, vaga an bully as he was, would be useful to him ‘in his endeavouring to retrieve his fortunes. t So he resolved to be friendly with him, * ‘ Oome, my friend,” he said, drawing up to the fire, “let us talk. You have not drank so deeply as your friends, or your head is stronger.” ‘Stronger! Aye, that it is,”? said the bully. ‘¢This head is invulnerable ; it is likeiron. It has stood so many blows in one combat and an- other that I know not where you can find a spot upon it which has not been indented. But, say, w yo you ask? Have you work in store for me 99 “Well,” cried Raymond, drawing his seat up nearer to ‘the Fire-eater, “well, there are more unlikely things than that. Although, here in I sappose you know the news?” ‘‘ What, the news from the Court?” ‘Yes : that is from the Oourt that was,” said Lord Raymond ; “the king has fled,—the queen is in France,—and the army is utterly demo- ralized. Far and near Cromwell has it his own way.” Ant is it so? The people’s cause has tri- umphed, then ?” said the captain. ‘¢ Are you, then, a Oromwellite?” said Lord Raymond, regretfully. The Fire-eater saw that he had made a mis- take, and he at onoe proceeded to remedy it. “No,” he said; “I used a wrong expression. What I meant to say was, that the king's cause had been loat, and that the Cromwellites had the day for the time. But there is yet time to retrieve the day. While the king is alive there is never any need of despair, What can I do for you ?” “ Silence and discretion are two of the requl- sites for any service in which you engage with me.” The Alsatian desperado laid his hand upon his heart. “T am as silent as the grave—as discreet as an old maid,” he said: “you may be sure of me,” ‘‘We will speak of the details at another time,” said Lord Raymond ; “ at it I am unable to say more than that there is & move- ment already on foot to rescue the king. He has, as you know, been betrayed {into the hands of Cromwell by the Scots upon whom we had 4ll 80 mnchdepended, and he is now at Holmby House.” “T have heard so,” said the captain, who had “drunk all the time to take notice of any of the remarks of his companiens upon the political movements of the day. ‘Well, when he is being removed to London, as is the intention of Cromwell,” continued Lord Raymond, “a rescue must be attempted. It needs for this a band of brave, and desperate spirits.” Pa Such as J am,” said the captain, stroking his heavy moustache, and parting it so as te enable him to quaff a large draught of ale, Cy MN aah > ’ -~_ \( Co ” bi 2 of uf GOVE OO © eS CO