The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE. “Well, ther,” said Harold, “when I first entered the service of the prisoner I ‘did not know how kind and good he was, and I really, therefore, believed him capable of doing these hideous misdeeds ; but I never saw his face but once ; when I cut the piece of cloth from out of his cloak, I saw two armourers exactly resemb- ling one another—in face, in form, in feature. I thought I was dreaming ; but when I closed my eyes for an instant and re- opened them, there remained but one—my master.” ‘¢ And from his cloak you cut the cloth 7” “ Yes,” ‘¢ You have seen three murders ?”’ “ Yes.” ‘‘ All by this giant ?” “Yes, my lord.” There was a whispered conference among the judges, and then the chief began his questions once more. “You recollect a piece of curious being made at your armoury ?”’ “ Yes.” ; ‘‘ You were engaged on it; therefore, tell us the device ?” | ‘¢Tt was a dove pursued by.a hawk; above them an eagle, near him a vulture. And the motto ‘From first to last-—~ Love, Memory, Death !’” ‘‘Good. Now who received this breastplate when you took it to the house near the river ?” ‘CA lady, with a black mask.” “ You could not see her face?” “No, my lord.” . ‘‘But whom did you suspect her to be?” - Harold glanced at his master. ‘Come,’ said the judge, sternly, “let us have the strict truth.” ‘¢T suspected her to be Alicia Leslie.” * Yes; the armourer’s daughter. You are telling all traly as yet.. Now, were you aware of the fact that this armour was intended for General Olicer Cromwell ?” Both the’ Yothng Apprentice and his master started in surprise. — “No, my lord. We thought it was for a nobleman.” “Did you know that there was a hollow re- ceptacle in its centre ?” ‘4Yes,”’ ** And for what was this intended ?” “We were told it was for the concealment of pers. ‘*Now listen tome. In that breastplate there was, a8 I have said, a hollow place, and a spring which worked a hollow needle which would dis- charge swiftly into a wound any liquid within the breastplate. This needle worked so surely that when it was tried on a man in Cromwell's presence he dropped dead instantly! The breastplate was poisoned ; it was intended b its maker for the Lord Protector of England !” “I awear that is falee, my lord,” said the armourer, firmly, “ It may be; but the facts go to prove other- g6. , “ The fact of the lady being masked, my lord,’’ said Harold, “ proves that we were unaware whom it was intended.” “ Warner,” said the judge, tarning to one of armour Number. the troopers, “let the cloak frem which the piece has been cut be brought into court.” In a few moments the man returned bearing with him the cloak, which was handed, by the judge’s directions, to the armourer. ‘© Now, prisoner,” said the Chief Justice, ‘is this your cloak ?” . The armourer examined it carefully. “ Yes, my lord,” he said, after a few minates’ reflection, “it is my cloak ; I cannot deny it.” There was a profound sensation in the court as he said these words : and the jadge, who was evidently powerfully affected, said, “Now what is your defence? If there is a being in the world so like you as to personate you thus, where ia he ? and who is he?” “ My lord,” returned Frank Leslie, “ I must reply to my accusations one by one. I shall do so briefly, though I have only my own word to weigh -against the evidence of two perjured foes, and one friend, who is compelled, by the force of circumatances, to bear witness againat me, Inthe first place I never knew anythin ng of the place of meeting below my house, un apprised of it by my apprentice, Harold. Fordyce, who had explored it, and who was attacked within its gloomy depths. He showed me the place where he bad seen the dwarf descending into the vaults, but, when we searched for the secret apring, it was nowhere to be seen. “ Secondly, as to the armour. A masked man ordered it; a masked woman received it. I know no more. “ Thirdly, Alicia is not my daughter.” A murmur of surprise interrapted him. ‘“ Whose daughter then is she?” asked the jadge. | _ *TnatI decline to tell,” said the armourer. “ As regards the cloak, I can explain nothing. The mystery in regard to it I cannot pretend to fathom.” “And is this—your simple w ) word—your only defence against all this evidence [” } | “ Yes; against the evidence of two assassins and that of one who speaks truth, but whose words are rendered criminatory only by cir- cumstances... I swear I am not guilty—I swear I am a true Republican, More I cannot say.” ‘‘ Ts that all ?”. “ Yes, my lord.” The judge bowed, and, tarning to his com- panions, conferred with them in an earnest tone, It was a time of solemn watching. 7 The three witnesses were now in the court— Lord Raymond, Peter Quelf, and Harold. Peter regarded the Young Apprentice with a 8a ] vage leer. Lord Raymond assamed a quiet hautenr. The huge armourer stood boldly with his brawny arms acroes his broad chest, gasing firmly at his jud and now and then casting “lance at Harold | him his in- a glance at Harold as if be forgave evidence against him. Presently the Chief Justice rose, saying so- lemnly— Oh tter a full deliberation we have arrived at our judgment, Let every one in court be silent while I deliver the solemn sentence of the judges :— voluntary Con \G NOTIOCE.—Another beautifal COLOURED PICTURE will be GIVEN AWAY with an early AAG pe Others to follow Dolo ~ ah Le, <S) O. *;) A ea CO