The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

hope, for your acts of treachery. My friends, behold the fate of a traitor.” The twelve men gazed earnestly at the being who was suffering such terrible torture, while Harold, unable to keep his eyes from the spec- tacle, still beheld it with a sickening heart. It was soon over. The victim made a few strange gurgling noises with his throat, then he gasped for breath, then his eyes fixed, and he sank in a heap as it were, looking something like a huge insect that had been transfixed against the wall, and allowed to die in that position. The chief waited until the man was really dead. Then he said in as solemn a voice as before, ‘‘ The meeting for to-night is closed. We will meet to-morrow night again at the same hour.”’ Then the twelve judges moved away through the dark hangings, and the lights grew dim as they went, and as the young apprentice gazed at the last figure, they seemed nothing more pal- pable to his eyes than shapeleas phantoms. _ Before. he had time to return to his seat, Sir Henry Saville re-entered the room, He was so much engaged in thought, however, that he did not observe our hero emerging from behind the tapestry. ‘‘ My lad,” he said, handing Harold a note, ‘‘ give this to your mistress and—”’ He hesitated a moment, gazing the while fixedly in the face of the young lad. ‘No, never mind, give her the note; give it carefully and that is all.” Harold moved towards the door very slowly. The man’s manner indicated that he wished to say more, but he did not. The door was reached silently, and it had closed behind him before Harold knew he was without. Hastily he ran down the slippery stone steps which led to the river and entered his boat, The river, as he pushed off upon ita rippling bosom, was far from being as dark as when he entered Saville House, but it seemed to wear a far more gloomy and dismal] aspect. Where was Quelf the dwarf? Was he dead—swallowed up in the black broad stream, and sucked by the broad current towards the ocean 7? His hideous form—ghastly now and dead—~ seemed perched in the stern or the boat as Harold pulled towards home, and it was with a savage energy, increased by a sense of fear, that the young apprentice made his way towards the stairs which led up to the armourer's house, Arrived at the top of them, he started back with a loud cry. Beated there, with his rough, dishevelled, frizzly hair matted together by the salt water, was Quelf the dwarf. He laughed a discordant laugh as Harold’s eyes fell on him, “ Ha, ha!” he said, “you didn't expect to find me here, I know. You thought you had mur- dered me ; but not so, my time is not yet come.” ‘“T never tried to kill you,” said Harold, .“ otherwise I could easily have done so.” “Hal itis very well to say that; it is not your fault that Iam not dead at this moment. Never mind, fear nothing. My revenge will keep. Jt will come when it is least convenient to you to meet it.” THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. He sprang up as he spoke. “Stay,” cried Harold, “ one word,” “ Bah !” exclaimed Quelf, assuming a tragic attitude, “ I wish no more speech with you.” And with these words he ran down the ateps and disappeared as it were in the river; while Harold, without waiting for more, hurried up to the house. The armourer’s youngest daughter was on the look out for him. ‘My sister is waiting eagerly for you,” she said; “hurry up toher, But tell me, did you do as I asked you ?”” “T did.” “ And did you see anything ?” “Yes. I saw——” | ‘Never miod, don’t tell me anything; only watch.” So saying—speaking withal in an odd‘authori- tative voice—she led the way up the stairs, Alicia Leslie was seated almost in the same position as when she had given him the instruc- ions. | She turned sharply round as the young ap- prentice entered. “ Well,” she said, eagerly. ‘‘ Here is your letter, Mistress Alicia,” he answered, respectfully, as he handed her the note. She toek it and read it anxiously. “Good,” she said, “Had you any trouble? Were you watched or followed ?” ‘By no one that you do not know, Mistress Alicia,” answered Harold, ‘I was followed by Qaelf.” * By Quelf?” Harold quickly-told his story. Alicia listened, biting her lips the while, and looking ghastly white. But she made zo remark, only muttering in- distinct words to berself, which the youth could not hear. Presently, after clenching her small white hands savagely together, and gazing angrily at the fire, as if in ite flames she could see some hated face, she rose suddenly and quitted the room. ** What will she do to Quelf?” asked Harold, musingly. He was thinking of his own position—think- ing of the kindneas of his benefactor, and of Master Leslie, and wondering whether by what he had done he had jeopardised his situation. “Do to him!” said the young girl, “ why, nothing.” “Nothing ! why, she looked terrible!” cried the apprentice, ‘‘' Yes; but she can’t harm him ; she muastn’t, Now you had better go.” Harold rose up, hesitated, and then going across the room, raised her hand to his lips, and kissed it. The girl flushed crimson, “ Don’t do that,” she said, in a trembling voice. “Why, miss? Have I offended you?” said Harold, timidly, “No, no; but if my sister or Leicester were to see you they would kill you.” Harold looked at her earnestly. “Then would you save me from them? Is that the reason you do not wish me to be seen ?” 1] As EDGO < a ie ey hd y aR wy < 2 Co i