The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. guard, ‘come, come, let us have none of this, We are here for Isaac Maltharzar, and we mean to have him.” As he spoke he advanced to the very door ef the old iun. The landlord stood hia ground manfaully, ‘‘ He is in sanctuary !’’ he cried. “We know it. But we have a writ from the Lord Chief Justice, and you are aware that that overcomes all sanctuaries. Deliver the man u quickly, therefore, or we will fire the house. It would be a blessing to burn down this oon- founded home of thieves and villains.” There was a loud groan from the Alsatians, The landlord glanced inquiringly at them. They were his customers, and he had to re- spect their pleasure. “I know nothing about him,” he cried; “be- sides, where is your warrant ?’”’ At the same time he made a significant ai to some of the men who crowded round the captain of the guard, so as almost to separate him from his soldiers, ‘“ Warrant! Want ye the warrant!” oried the irascible trooper. ‘‘ Here—see—this is the er 99 As he spoke, he took from his pocket a long slip of parchment, and showed it to the land- ord. _ “T cannot read,” said the latter, with a know- ing smile. ‘Pass it to yonder friend of mine ; he will give us the benefit of his learning.” As he spoke, he pointed to a tall, burly ruffien, who at once, with a laugh, took the paper from the hands of the officer. He tarned it first this way, and then another and then, with a shrug of the shoulders, it to his companion, who, after the same pantomime, did the same. Bo it went on. © paper passed from one to another dly, was quickly lost in the crowd, and then tod jeering arose, “ We can't read it—we can’t read it.” “‘ Read it yourself, then,” said the fat land- lord, whose sides were now convulsed with merriment. “Give it to me, then,” said the captain of the guard, sternly. A loud roar of laughter responded to this speec ‘‘ Come, come,” said the landlord, “let us have none of this nonaense, Let's have this warrant read, or Isaac Maltbazsar does not leave Alsatia this night.” The officer saw he was tricked. “It has been stolen from me,’’ he cried ; “ but saw it. That is enough. It is from the Chief Justice, and you must obey it.” “Til say good-night, my worthy master,” said the landlord; and, so saying, he moved away from the door, “Is he to enter here, master?” asked the tall, burly raffian, who had first received the warrant from the hands of the officer. “ Certainly not,” cried the landlord. “We want no brawling soldiers here. If you want to be served with any more liquor to-night, my friends, get rid of them quickly, or I shall olose my doors,”’ The hint was sufficient. In an instant fifty swords had leapt from i their scabbards, and the tall man had placed himself on the steps of the tavern, as if to guard the doorway, For a moment the captain of the guard hesi- He was in a davgerous neighbourhood ; but then he had ent it armed with the writ, which not even the Alsatians were in the habit In spite of the fact, therefore, that it had been stolen from him, he felt strong in the prestige whioh ita possession had obtained for Drawing back a step, therefore, he unsheathed his sword, and cried, in a loud voice, “Come, my men, let us teach these rascals their duty.” The soldiers, brave as they were, knew well that they were opposed to no insignificant ad- versaries, and prepared themselves accordingly for a vigorous battle. Ranging themselves quickly on one side, they drew their heavy swords, and ata signal from their captain they rushed upon the desperad oes. Out of this mélée Oaptain Lackland glided away. “ There are plenty of others to fight this out,” said he to himself, ‘I'll look after this Y oung Apprentice, and let them fight to keep me out of the way.” Harold, who, as may be imagined, had not entered the precincts of Alsatia for the purpose of aiding in the search of the old Jew, did not array himself with the soldiers against the Alsatians, He kept behind. He wasin search, in fact, of Ben Firebrace, who in one of the terrible mélées which had occurred near the metropolis, had offended one of his superiors, and had been compelled for He had good news for him, During the comparatively quiet time which had elapsed between the defeat of the king and his betrayal by the Scots he had discovered a place where Lizzie was concealed. Always anxious to assist and benefit a friend, he had hastened toinform Ben of a fact that his long-lost mistress was once more capable of being recovered. No reply, however, had reached him, until at last the news arrived from Lord Clement Villiers that Ben had got into trouble through strixin g a young officer, and had been compelled to On this oocasion, therefore, willing though he always was to draw his sword in a good cause, he kept aloof from the combat, and when the first rush was made by the mutual foes, he drew back beneath the shadow of a doorway. It was here that Captain Lackland first ac- costed him. “What are you doing here, young sir?” he d, ‘J am doing apparently the same as you,” returned Harold. “ Looking on.” ‘¢But what business have you in Alsatia? Have you been robbing your master, or been mixed up jn some heathenish brawl] with the old Jow they are in search of ?” “Neither the one nor the other,’’ returned (G) “)) SS GOVE OO O16S CO