The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

(~ ECS) Lee a - 222 When Max Bowden awoke on the following morning, he gazed about him like one bereft of sense, The effect of the drugged drink forced upon him by his companion of the previous eévcning, had worn off truly, but it hai left bebind it a dull, leaden, heavy feeling, a lassitude and a weakness which was insupportable. He glanced round again and aga‘n. Everything was strange, Where could he be? 3 He almost feared to riso and approach the oor, What if he had really committed the crime, and should find himself a prisoner, on a charge of murder ! He felt almost mad, Everything was repeated before his brain. He could see the figures in the gaming saloon once more. Once more the faces grew pale, and the eyes glared wildly. Once more he won, and once more lost. Once more he felt the glow of joy, followed by the glow of despair, and the atill more ter- rible glow of hate, Again the tempter was at his side urging him n. Again he yielded, and followed in the wake of his intended victim. Then came the scene on the bridge—the atruggle—the reacue ! “Oh, Heavens! AmI mad?” he murmured, pressing his hand to his heated brow, “No, not mad now,” said a voice. * You were last night, but you are recovered, I trust, this morning.” It was Harrok Dyser who spoke. Phas dared scarcely to look at him in the face mly. Deep shame and real contrition were in his heart truly. Yet he felt that he had committed a sin for whica forgiveneas was no easy task. 4 the cla ‘You © not speak, m ” said the ol mountebank, kindly. yee “I have nothing to say,” answered Max Bowden, in a low voice. “All I could tell you would not leasen what I did last night.” “Yes, it would. You acted, I am certain, under the influence of some powerful drug.” “TI did, indeed—I was maddened with drink,” “I believe you quite. And now tell me, do you know aught of Nelly ?” “She is at my mother’s,” returned Max, brightening up. “And does she know of these gambling tricks of yours?” “She does not.” “And how was she saved from the hands of Peter Quelf?” asked Dyser. “I and Harold Fordyce saved her," returned Max, with a slight intonation of triumph. “Thank heaven |” cried Harrok. ‘Tell me, where does your mother live? I must fetch my Nelly home at once.’’ “ And can you forgive me for all Ihave done ?” Bald Max. e mountebank looked at him very aternl “It depends,” he said, “upon your future conduct.” 0 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, ' 1 and you will not tell Nelly of all my sin and olly 2’ “] will not, if you sincerely appear to repent, and try to be a man.” ‘Then,’ cried Max Bowden, in an altered tone, “then I will strive to do my best, Nothing shall tempt me again to evil. By brave exer- tions I will win back your good opinion, and strive to dezerve Nelly’s,”’ When we return to their house, we see a pleasant picture, are Harrok himself is seated by the blazing Opposite him are seated Nelly and Max Bowden, “Times are changed,” said the mountebank, with a smile. “Yes, indeed,” said Max, who well understood his meaning. ‘Ah! and changed for others, too,’’ continued the old mountebank. ‘The King of England, if all I hear is right, will soon breathe his Jast.” ‘Ts he dying, then ?” asked Nelly, in wonder. ‘Not dying, but in the minds of his judges he is already condemned. There was a secret meeting last night in the Tower, and there, when they imagined no one could hear them, they re- solved that he was to die,”’ “ Horrible wretches !” exclaimed Nelly, with a shudder. To this Maximilian Bowden did not respond. He had been too well versed in politics, al- though he was so young, to pity Charles the irat. Before the mountebank could speak there was a knocking at the door. “Who is there ?”’ he asked, in some alarm and. 8 urprise., * A friend,” said a well-known voice, “ Zng- land and justice !” As in all other things, the watchword was in those troublous times the great proof of asin- cerity. *¢ It is Clement Morpeth,”’ said the old mounte- bank. ‘He is a good and true friend to the king. Nelly, admit him.” ax Bowden rose. ‘‘T am ont of place here,” he said; ‘‘you know, Mr. Dyser, I am a friend to Cromwell, and I have no wish to act as a spy upon you,” Harrok Dyser frowned. ‘When Nelly has admitted the stranger, then retire with her,” he said. ‘‘When Clement Morpeth is gone, I must speak to you of this matter.” Nelly rose without speaking, and opening the door, admitted a young and dsome-looking man, who gazed upon her with a glance of admiration, which brought the hot blood to her cheeks, and made Max Bowden’s heart leap in mae h “ Well pretty one,” he said, “where is your father? Ah! I see he is there, Dyser, 1 have news for you,” ‘Nelly, take Max to the upper room,” said Dyser. Then, when the young couple had retired to talk of the future, and whisper sweet words of love upstairs, the mountebank and his friend peated themselves by the fire to enter into their royalist conspiracy. “Well,” said Clement, as soon as they were GOVE OO © <S) So" he i CO oy lin