The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, a “Do you not know me, then ?” cried Morpeth, pausing in the fight. ‘‘Yes; you are Clemert Morpeth,” returned the mountebank. Clement laughed bitterly. ‘Time has, indeed, changed me then,” he said, “or the disguise I have assumed is a wondrous good one, Know, then, that I am Lionel Darlingford. your old assistant.” ‘Lionel Darlingford !” | ‘Yes, the one whom you dismissed with shameful blows, and who swore as he rose bleeding and in pain from the earth to be re- venged on you and yours.” ‘‘ Revenged |? cried Harrok Dyser, “and you, J.ionel Darlingford, dare talk to me of revenge ! You, who plundered me—who robbed me like a common thief—who behaved to me as an in- famous vagabond and arobber! Do you re- member what,J ptomised you when I caught you next? Begone, villain, ere I drive my sword through your vile and coward heart.” Anger—fierce unmitigated anger — flashed from Harrok Dyser as he spoke, There was no doubting his determination to do all he threatened. For an instant fear took possession of Clement Morpeth’s heart. He dropped his sword and retreated a step. Doing this he stumbled. In a moment the mountebank's sword flashed in the air, Then it darted forward, and was sheathed in the body of Clement Morpeth. With a loud cry of pain and rage the latter fell back upon the wooden staircase, Evidently his last hour was come, . The colour died away from his face—the blood welled out rapidly from his wound, An expression of agony passed over his features, and then with a muttered curse he expired. Peter Quelf was now alone between two foes. He at once glanced round him to seek an opportunity of escape. When beset like this, although he was no coward, he had no hesitation in making goed his escape. Seeing the staircase behind him where his dead friend was lying, he made a dash for it, and fell, He was now at the mercy of the Young Ap- prentice, Harold had already wounded him, and he now raised his weapon to give the coup de grace. But again Quelf was saved as if by a miracle. Again bis evil genius appeared to be at hand to protect him. : Just as Harold’s death-dealing sword was about to descend and pierce his breast, there was a tremendous burat of smoke from the chimney, and a flame swept along the ground, The table and the benches were already on fire, and the blaze was rapidly spreading to the staircase, which, being of wood, would soon, if set fire to, have cut off all chance of retreat, Quelf was forgotten in a moment, Hidden from sight for an instant, he had the time given him to spring to his feet and rush upwards towards the door. “I will follow him,” cried Harold, rushing forward. Dyser detained him, and pointed towards the inner door, “Stay,” he exclaimed, “stay, let us save Max and Nelly. Never mind that young demon. We may yet have a chance of settling our affairs with him; but we muat see that our friends are saved from this fire.” Hurrying to the door of the inner chamber, they pressed against it with their united strength. Only for a moment it resisted. — It was strong truly, but the united efforts of their broad shoulders soon pushed it away from ita fastenings, and Nelly Dyser sprang joyously into the arms of her father. _ ‘Dear, dear father,” she cried, ‘and, Max, where is he?” . _— “He is here safe, although terribly ill,’ said Harrok Dyser ; “ but come, let us leave this place. Every moment we remain only increases our peril.” Max Bowden could hardly walk, but, with the assistance of the Young Apprentice, he was enabled to clamber up the staircase. The fresh air without soon revived him, and they proceeded together towards Ferndale, ax was very ill from the effects of the drug which had been administered to him, but he was sufficiently recovered that night to embrace Nelly ardently ere she retired to rest, and to thank her for her untiring devotion. ‘ Well,” said Harold, when Max also had re- tired, “what think you now of your Royalist friends?” Harrok Dyser shrugged his shoulders doubt- in By ‘T cannot tell,” he said, “what I think of them,” “They have all proved traitors to you,” arged the Young Apprentice, “True. But they do not lessen my belief in the justice of the king’s cause.”’ . ‘© He has bad assistants, then ; bad defenders.’ “Troe. ‘But that does not make his cause a bad one.’” “Hush ! what is that ?” exclaimed the Young Apprentice. hey were seated in a room on the basement story. It was a long, lofty room, quite in the old style, without carpet, and with dark and stained panelling all along its walls. At both ends were high windows, and through one of these there now came the sound of some one walking along the gravelled walk without. Then there was a sudden crash, and a heavy substance was thrown through the glass and fell at their feet, They both started up and rushed towards the window. But no one was to be seen in any direction. A faint shadow truly to vanish in the far distance. But that was all. “It is a mystery,” said Harrok; “let us sce what is the missive so strangely sent.” They returned to the fire-place. On the broad rug was a atone with a letter attached, Harrok picked it up. ‘* It is for me,” he said, as he opened it. As he did so he started. COILNA) book “} | £ G ame