The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “Lord Clement lives, truly,” cried Lord Ray- mond, recoiling a few steps, “ but it will not many days before he, also, is in my power. I have already those upon his track who will bring him to me—into this very death-trap which I have prepared for all my enemies, But enough of him ; I have decided upon the course I shall take, and no fear of danger will have any effect upon my actions.” He folded his arms, and gazed at her for a moment in silence, with a sneer of cowardly triumph on his lips. Lady Blanche did not utter a sound. A noise from without the gloomy room had caught her ear. Lord Raymond, busy with his own vile thoughts, had not observed it. ‘*‘] will be with you again to-morrow, madam,” he said. ‘Each day, in fact, I will Visit you. Perhaps, ere long, I may find you in a better humour; but I give you fair warning that I will not much longer be trifled with. Even now one kiss from those ruby lips shall be mine ere [ leave you,” His design was altered, however, ere he moved a step towards her. A loud crash was heard withoud 4s of fallen masonry, mingled with the cries of mén. ‘‘Ah!” oried Lady Blanche, “your triumph will be a short one; eveh now my friends are here to rescue me,” Lord Raymond, though his face was pale, laughed scornfully. “* Ha, ha !" he cried ; “if that is the way your friends set about your release they will stand a fair chance of being buried beneath the ruins, One pillar displaced would bring the entire vault in one fearful crash about our ears, At this moment there was a rush of feet withont, and a loud knocking with heavy in- struments was heard against part of the wall where there had once been a window, now closed in by heavy iron shutters. A flush of delight overspread the features of Lady Blanche, who, up to this moment, had been ee geath, y friends are nearer than you expected,” she eaid, in triumph. 7 “They will do you no good,” he cried, savagely. ‘‘He shall not save you. At yonder end of the room is a secret door; through that I will drag you to utter darkness, We will see then how you will admire your captivity.” Rushing forward, before she could again draw forth her poniard, he seized her, and was about to bear her away, when the Leavy shutter gave way under the terrific blows of those without, and several men were seen, In another instant Lord Clement Villiers had aprung into the room. It all seemed the work of a moment. Lord Raymond was on the floor, and Lady Blanche was clasped to her husband’s breast, while through the window swarmed several of Hareld’s apprentice friends, and some rough fellowa from the Bully’s Paradise. “ Raffian !" cried Lord Clement, “ ruffian, I have foiled you. This time nothing sball save you from my vengeance. Stand aside, Blanche —stand aside for one moment, while I give this fellow the coup de grace for which he bas been Waiting so long at my hands,”’ Blanche clung te him. “Oh t save me, Clement—save me from this pace,” she cried. ‘Leave him now; let him ive a little longer. Do not wait now, or he may bring those who will destroy you.” At this moment Gregory Anvil—for it was he who led the Apprentices—~shouted at the top of his voice, ‘‘This way—this way, Lord Villiers. Leave that villain to himself; waste now no time on him. Our enemies aré upon us in swarms.” Villiers waited for no more. Lifting his beloved wife in his arms, he carried her towards the window, Raymond, stunned by the blow which had been given to him by no niggard hand, lay still upon the ground, while Villiers carried Lady Blanche from him. But in a moment he recovered. Springing to his feet, he rushed towards the window, and was about to make a dash at Lord Villiers, when Gregory Anvil stepped between them, ‘‘ Back villain !” he said ; ‘‘ you cross not the threshold of this room until my friends are in safety. I know not what fate may be reserved for you, or what fate Lord Villiers desires for you; but try once to injure him or stay his passage while I am here, and I will be your death.” . The determined aspect of the brawny young blacksmith’s appreutice, caused Lord Raymond to draw back for the moment. This moment was enough. Lord Villiers had time to spring through, to drag Blanche after hini, and, in another minate he was speeding towards the staircase that led to the revolving figure. By this time Quelf and his companions were astir, and, ere Villiers had resehed the top of the staircase, the dwarf and his friends had rushed upon the apprentices and the Alsatians. This was to be expected. These scenes were never to be separated from bloodshed, and Lord Villiers, loth as he was to leave the side of his wife, conld not retreat with her now, without laying himself open to a charge of cowardice. ‘‘ Blanche,” he whispeted, “ran quickly up the staircase, See yonder where the stairs turn into a shadowy nook, Push violently there, and if the figure turns you will find yourself in the street, If you cannot succeed in this, remain there until I join you; you will bo in safely there.” ‘Oh! come with me,” she cried, clinging with her warm arma round his neck, ‘“ Do not leave me now.” “ Blanche,” he answered, “you would not have me be acoward. This once, let me beg of you to do as I wish. Go, as I bid you, dearest, and in a few moments I will join you.” With one more tender embrace, she flew up the stairs, and ensconced herself in the place which he had mentioned, and where she could sce all that passed below. In an instant there was a rush and a clamonur, and the combatants joined. Clash! clash! clash! went the steel. Down fell handsome youths and brave men. The young girl looked on with het hands clasped over her heaving bosom. GOVE OO © CO