The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

————— But he might have spared himself the trouble of doing so, for Quelf was nowhere to be seen. “Tt was his own fault,” thought Harold, as he pulled once more towards Saville House. It was not long now ere he reached it, and mooring the boat to a pile ran eagerly up the stairs. This led beneath a dark archway, like that which leads ‘to the Traitor’s Gate, and it was with some difficulty that Harold could find the gate by which he had been told to enter; but at length he found before him a broad iron- bolted portal, at which he knocked loudly. After a few moments it was opened by a tall soldier, clad in armour. ‘What want you, boy?” he said, as the light from the lamp in the dark old hall within fell upon the dripping form of the young apprentice, “Sir Henry Saville,” said Harold, boldly. ‘‘ What is your pass-word ?”’ “*The man without a name,’” answered, Harold, boldly. the Good,” returned the trooper; "follow me, en.’ The heavy door clanged to as the man spoke, and, ere the echoes had died away, Harold was following his conductor up a natrow stone winding staircase, such as one hears of as exist- ing in the old castles. Presently they arrived at the door of a large room, which might have been a receptacle of the dead, so old and black, and plainly hung was its tapestry, 80 gloomy the pictures on its painted ce.ling, so strangly grouped, and.tall, and dark, the coats of mail disposed around it. “Wait here,” said the soldier; “and Sir Henry Saville will be here in a few moments,” With these words he closed the door, and left Harold alone with the dull oil lamp, the gro- tesque pictures, and the blackness of darkness everywhere around him. To say he did not feel nervous, would scarcely be expressing. the truth, although no absolute fear of danger invaded his mind. It was depressing and nervous work to sit there in the great silent house alone; and he was glad when the heavy tread of a spurred boot told him that somebody was coming. Then the door opened, and a gentleman entered, tall, young, and well-built, and dressed in the height of fashion. Though young, however, there was a serious- ness about his manner, which showed how deeply his thoughts were engaged in some great enter- prise. _ “You have a letter for me, I presume, young sir ?’”’ he said, addressing Herold, The young apprentice handed it to him, and he read it attentively. Then he turned once more to the boy. an you remain here or come with me ?” he 5a ® Instantly the words of the armourer’s young- est daughter occurred to Harold’s mind. “ Twill remain pere, sir,” he said, “ You are not afraid of this gl ” said the cavalier. Bloomy Place P ‘* No, sir.” Sir Henry nodded, and locking the door after him. For some time all was still Then, in some chamber adjoining, there quitted the room, THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, seemed to be tramping of feet, and: other commotien. Presentiy the tapestry was swayed to and fro by a rushing wind, and Harold, impelled by a strange instinct, crept behind it. He had no sooner done ao, than he saw that through a hole in the wall, a stream of light ro upon the tapestry, and voices too could be eard, Gliding up to this hole, he glanced through, and saw a sight which thrilled him with surprise. and terror | The room into which he glanced through the aperture in the wall was hung in black, and round the benches sat twelve men in masks, one of them being stationed on a seat higher than the rest. At the end of the room was a man also masked, who appeared to be standing under judgment before them. Harold could soon see that he was bound tightly ; that his arms were fast down by his side, and that his standing posture was forced upon him by being tied to an upright piece of wood At the moment when Harold gazed in—seeing all these things at a glance—the man was un- masked by the one who sat next to him. A distorted, hideous face was that which he gazed on—a face pale with rage and fear ne was b lei t e was not , but a convulsive movemen Eiiow of his mou ed that his tongue was gone. When he opened his lipe indeed a frothy foam stood upon them. - Lord Hastings was speaking when the mask was removed. “Simon Lawless,” he said, “I can but add to what I have said, that I regard your punishment as ajust and necessary one, You have been discovered in the very act of betraying us; though, unfortunately for yourself, you betrayed us to one of ourselves. Your tongue has been cut out that you may no longer babble. Now drink as we do, to the health of King Charles I. Raymond, hand to him the glass.” The man evidently understood the meaning of his superior, and taking a glass which was standing near him, handed it to the prisoner. All the men in masks raised their glasses. To the health of King Charles I.,” said the chief. The prisoner hesitated. “ Drink or you die,” said the chief, in a solemn voice, The man gazed for an instant wistfully in the speaker's face, and then with a kind of convulsive movement he raised the glass to his lips and swallowed its contents. Harold almost guessed the truth. The man stood for a moment after drinking the liquid and gazed wildly around him. Then his face became white and his body writhed. A convulsive horrible movement of his lips showed that he was trying to speak, forgetting fn the excitement of his brain that his speech had been for ever taken from him. ‘‘ Miserable man,” said the chief, in a solemn voice, “ your doom is sealed. The poisoned wine you have just drunk is your atonement, let us GOVE OOO — ) Sed _)