The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

® - _— THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 196 Reymond laughed. “Yea,” he said, “it will not be over lively, I maust confees; but the time will soon pass. ieu.”’ After shaking banda, the two desperadoes then parted, and Leicester was left alone. It was a wretched time, The weather was dark and stermy, and all day Jong, and through the night, the sea kept roar- ing, and heaving, and beating in strange wild- ness against the rocks below the cavern, rising sometimes to suzh a. height that the spray entered the cavern, But drearily and slowly as the time passed, it did pass for him as for others. The evening on which Lord Raymond had appointed to meet Leicester in the cavern previously to their both sallying out to commit bighway robbery, and perhaps murder also, was dark and gloomy. The wind rose and fell with fitful violence—a Wild moaning sound came off the sea as though some imprisoned spirits murmured to get free. Leicester walked to.and fro in this cavern in astate of mind bordering upon madness; not repentance for the past, nor remorse for his crimes, but ari emotion akin to exasperation at being so clearly 4nd unequivocally detected. He trembled to think what might be the result of that evening’s deeds ; but he was now with- out means, and without other counsel than his tutor in vice—Lord Raymond; he had no resource, and he eared not for the deed’; but he cared about being seen—he cared about its being known, because it was evidence against him at a future me, “TY must have money !” he exclaimed ; “ come by it how I may, I ninst have it. This place will serve as a city of refuge for mein time of need and pursuit, Here I can at any time lie in concealment; nay, I can hide my wealth from the greedy eyes of this man, this Lord Raymond.” — . He started as he uttered this name, and peered round to ascertain whether he had been over- heard by the individual himeelf. It was very dark, and when he approached the mouth of the cavern, and looked out upon the ocean, he could acarcely see the white foam that curled upon the edge of the waves as they rolled onwards towards the shore, and then washed themselves on the cliff, “Y¥ cannot see him,” he muttered. “I cannot ak him if he were near on such a night as And he again endeavoured to pierce the gloom that surrounded the cave, It was dark and murky. It did not rain, and yet the air felt damp. There was a strange moaning sound coming from the water, which had a peculiar smile with it which mariners often notice precedes any violent commotion at sea, The screams of a few sea-fowl were heard, a8 they dashed by ; having been startled from their nests by some cause, and frightened by the signs ' Of the night, they sought a more sheltered and secure roosting place. Leicester found few objects that could afford \ wen! - low tone, the p him an antidote against reflections, arising, des- pite all his endeavours, in his own mind, and began to get impatient as the time drew near in which Lord Raymond should arrive, Indeed, he thought he might have been earlier, as the hours had lengthened as the night drew on, and the minute of arrival appeared to be put off indefinitely, * Leicester !"’ cried a voice near him. It was that of Lord Raymond. ‘‘ You are come, then,” he said, after the firat momentary surprise. “I will be ready in a moment, and will go anywhere rather t ree | main longer in this dismal hole.” “ Yes,” replied Lord Raymond, “or do any- thing. Thie is the frame of mind in which a brave man dares the world’s coarse censure, and acts for himself. Go on thus, and you will be able to amags immense wealth, or if not s0 much, at least enough to enable you to obtain plenty more ; but come, we waste time.” ‘*‘T am now ready to follow you,” said Leiceater, “°Tis well,’’ replied Lord Raymond ; “ but stay, it is cold and dark. Wemay haveastorm. I have, therefore, provided something with which to cheer our hearts, Drink,’’ he added, holding a goblet of wine to him. Leicester lifted the glass to his lips, and did not set it down until he had drained it to the regs. He then handed it to Lord Raymond, who took some himself, and they then both quitted the cavern, and re-mounting the sides of the cliffa, they goon stood upon tke green sward again, “Have we far to go?” inquired Leicester, when he stood upon the summit of the cliff. “Yes, some three miles, at least, and a moet troublesome road in the dark; but [ am well acquainted with it, and you may, therefore, depend upon my condacting you safely.” “ Lead on,” said Leicester, “and I will follow you closely.” They both now walked on at a rapid pace, Leicester taking hold of Lord Raymond’s arm, and being unable to seo anything whatever, he implicitly followed wherever he led him. After about an hour's walking, they came to a place where there was a wall, to pass which it was necessary to descend a small path cut ont in the face of the cliff, and which went. down- wards for a certain distance, and traversed some score or two of yards, and then ascended after having passed the estete of the individual who would sooner consign a few of his fellow crea- tures to an untimely death than he would have a little grass or perhaps barren ground trodden , under foot. “Tg this the place?” inquired Leicester, in @ being a path cut oat in the cliff. , “There is one immediately below our feet,” whispered Lord Raymond, “but I must say if had better not be tried to-night, at least not yet awhile, for it is often extremely dangerous after rain,” ‘Will our vietim come up here?” said Leicester, endeavouring vainly to look down. — EDOO a a eS (how vat, 3. “p)) (©; ip