The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

» ¥ | , y} 198 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “ee w ‘ NL a! made me tremble at my own vice for a moment, But there! that is done with ; I have done the deed, and how it bas been done does not now matter,” ‘‘ So she went down upon her knees, did she? and you———”’ “T bade her rise, my lord, and told her that it was no place for her; that I had my peremp- tory ordera, and eould do nothing but what i was bidden, She then sprang to feet, her byes ablaze with anger, and her bosom swelling, looking beautiful as an angel. ‘<6 Do as you please with me, then,’ she said ; ‘but I have faith in Providence, and am certain that I shall not long be suffered to be in the power of my enemies.’ ‘She hurried to the door once or twice, and called aloud for her servants. ‘‘This was in vain, however. ‘J had so contrived, that no one was near, and she might have cried and shrieked for an hour in vein.” as and doesn’t her husband know anything of 18 99 “Nothing at present.” “Then you must return to London. He will soon discover this, and if you are absent, will suspect something. Hasten back, then, and om when he has been e, seen all, and departed again, as he will, at once return to me,” “@ood, my lord.” * You say Lady Blanche is at Duneaton 2” “Yes, my lord ; but two miles distant.” « She is, I suppose, at the place we named ?” “ She is, and in safe custody.” “T trust 20; she shall never again return to her hasband. She is wholly and absolutely in my power now, and shall pay for all the insults and shame she has put upon me.” “TI am without funds,’ suggested Harry Martin. Lord Raymond plunged his hands into his | pockets, and drew out some of the gold belong- ing to his late victim. “Here is some; return with good news to me, and I will let you have more.’ e Harry Martin placed the stained gold ia his pocket, said a hurried good night, and saying a few words to his men, dashed away with them along the dark highway. “Now,” said Lord Raymond, “now for Lad Blanche and revenge |” monn 7 The word seemed to give him ren strength and vigour. a owed It would have given him less of this had he known how near him would soon be the one whose hate he had most to guard agains he been aware that on the evening of the second day, Lord Clement Villiers himself would be in his vicinity, burning with fury and desire for vengeance upon the man who had robbed his nest of its dove. He thought nothing of this, however. All his ideas were concentrated upon his ap- proaching meeting with Lady Blanche. . he could, by time and perseverance, force her to yield het heart to him, and it wus with a feeling of triumph at his heart that he hurried towards the town where he was to meet Leicester, and then procure # hor¥e to fake him to Duneston. The night was still very dark. The heavy clouds gathered thick oyer the moaning sea, and the voiced of the wind roared amid the Why could it not warn him of his fate? Why did it not tell him of the wonderful change which would seon be wrought in him and blot out his identity among meni for ever? CHAPTER III. LORD CLEMENT VILLIERS—THE LETTER FROM BLANCHE—-THE RAGE OF JEALOUSY—CAN IT BE TRUE ?—THE PURSUIT—THE STORM —THE RUINS OF THE OLD ABBEY-—PERILOUS POSITION—THE BAND OF ASSASSINS—THE UNEXPECTED MEETING—THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFY. To explain the proximity of Lord Clement Villiers’to the wild cavern on the coast of Essex, we must beg our readera to accompany us back to the moment, when, flushed with joy, he led his happy wife from the subterranean vault to their own home once more. The reunion was one of unfeigned joy, and made more terrible the bitter disappointment which followed. It is always thus. . A lull precedes the tempest, and thus the beautiful joy of reunited hearts preceded the terrible fever and storm of jealousy and anger. Two days after their return from London; Lord Clement was absent for two hours from home, It was evening time, and when he returned, the shades of darkness had olosed in over the country side. He was met at the door of the mansion by Harry Martin. The treacherous domestic wore a look of deep sorrow and regret upon his crafty features. ‘What ails you, Harry?” cried Lord Clement. “JT have bad news for you, my lord.” He spoke in a tone of well-acted emotion. “What is it? speak out |” oried Villiers. ‘‘I have had so many sad trials lately that the words scarcely bring now any surprise to my heart. Quick! say, let me know what has happened.” ‘My Lady Blanche has gone once more, my lord.” ‘ “ Gone !” “Yes, my lord; and here is a letter which she has left for you.” \ = - Lord Clement seized the missive, and carried Madman that he was, he still imagined that | it eagerly into his roem to read it.. ye (. | ad -~ Xt, GOVE IO O1KSECO