The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

i THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, ‘‘T have no objection to take upon me the responsibilities of my position,” said Lord Ray- mond ; “but, tell me, who is it I am called upon to defend?” “Tt seems like Isaac Malthazsar, the Jew. He has been a rare friend to you cavaliers in his time, and he is now accu of having cut somebody’s throat for the purpose of getting more money to lend you.” ‘*Good,” cried Lord Raymond, laughing, ‘I will befriend him, then; let us advange at once.” There were, perhaps, a hundred and fifty or two hundred people assembled at the points where the real disturbance had commenced and was still goingon. It was at an old tavern more rickety and tumble down than the one they had just left. The windows from the bottom to the top of the tavern were lit up brilliantly, and from eve one of them protrnded the heads of men an women, who were flinging down all kinds of missiles upon the heads of about fifty soldiers gathered around the doorway. ‘“‘ Give us up our prisoner !” cried a lond vciee, and from amid the crowd a tall, burly-looking fellow advanced to the door of the hoatelry. “We know not who you mean,” replied a voice from the window of the first floor. “Tt is Isaac Malthazzar, the Jew, returned the captain of the guard, “Qaick! Deliver him, or it will be the worse for you !” At this moment Lord Raymond turned eagerly towards his companions. ‘‘ By Heavens !’’ he cried, “there is with thcas soldiers one of my worst and moat inveterate enemies—Harold Fordyce, the armeurer’s ap- prentice, Let us spproach nearer, My time for revenge has come !”’ The firat impulse of Lord Raymond was to join at once with the Algatians against the writ servers and the soldiers, and thus find an opportunity of destroying the youth whe had so opposed him in all his enterprises. ut a moment's thought restrained him from entering rashly upon such a course, Treachery had so invaribly defended him, that an instant’s consideration naturally sug- gested it as the best means to employ again, and instead, therefore, of drawing his sword, and joining the ranks of the excited Alsatians, he turned to Captain Lackland, saying— “Give me your cloak and hat, I will pay you well a the Joan of i ‘You will have to give me yours in exchanga, then,” replied the captain. “Then give me a mask,” returned Lord Ray- mond ; “ but be quick, or he may recognize me, and that will spoil all.” “ Which is your enemy?” asked the bravo. ‘That youth there,” replied Raymond. “That youth who bears himself so proudly, Be hasa plume in his hat. He is an armonrer’s appren- tice, and has been set en by my enemies to annoy me. Quick, let me have thig mask or a change of clothes.’ ao ‘“‘ Allow me to suggest,” said the captain “that you are in Alsatia.” “T kuow it.” “You are here because you wish to escape the persecution and annoyance of your ene- mies.” é¢ Yes, yes,” “Well, having arrived here in safety, and having succeeded in placing yourself among oorapanions who will not betray you, why do you wish to put yourself in the power of a young fellow like this, when you might accom- plish your purpose 60 much more easily the other way ?’ “My intention is to kill him, and he will have but little chance, therefore, of betraying me. The Alsatian laughed. “Well, well,” he said, “the people are be- ginning to clamour more loudly now round the door of the hostelry. Whether you want to kill him or not, you must be quick abont it." “TI shall take but little time,” aaid Lord Ray- mond, “in disposing of him.” ‘‘Ah! he’s not dead yet,” said the captain ; ‘he may give you more trouble than you expect, Take my advice; give this little matter over into my hands, aod I will guarantee that before morning there will be an end of him.” Losd Raymond hesitated. Harold Fordyce had upon so many previous occasions eluded him, that there was, of course, a chanoe that he might effect his escape once more, There were a great many things to be con- sidered moreover. Chief among these was the fact that he was an yet own to any of the Alsatians, except Papéain and, and it was doubtful, there- forse, whether any of them would feel inclined to take up his quarrel as a atranger. Tho most prudent thing, therefore, was after all to take the bravo’s advice and accomplish oe end by treachery rather than by open vio- ce. Turning quickly to the desperado, therefore, “Do you knew him well enough to recognise him in the darkness?” **'Yes. Seo, he is now beneath the lamp. A handsome lad, with bright, o features. Quick, tell me—what is his name {" “ Harold Fordyce.” * An armourer's apprentice f”’ $5 Yea,” *“ His master’s name!” “ Krank Leslie, of the Strand.” ‘Good! Does he love any one?” 14 I know not. Hat go o anickly 3 a tag i go eces to you if in mom u bri me news of his death.” syns “Good !” cried the captain. “Leave it to me, Go you back to the tavern whence we came, and ere dawn the deed shall be done.” With these words he walked off with an ostentatious swagger, and entered the inn where the disturbance was atill progressing. The landlord of the tavern evidently knew all about the old Jew, but he was loth to give up. “ Honour among thieves” has always been a proverb. In Alsatia especially it held good. No matter what crime had been committed by the criminal, there was a dislike in the minds of every one to deliver him up to jus- ce. “Come, come,” cried the captain of the EDOOo