The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

7 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OB, The owner of this head did not attempt to tup again, Drawing a long knife from his pocket, he placed it beneath the sash, and, lifting it, dropped gently into the room. The girl did nat even now awake from her eleep. - The new comer, therefore, approached nearer to her. ‘She is a lovely little thing,” he said to himeelf, Well he might. She was, indeed, a pretty sight to see, with her raddy cheeks, her parted lips showing her white teeth, her creamy shoulders, and her maiden bosom peeping over her low dress, while her bare arms lay gently on her lap. Well he might, too, contrast this delicious little being with himself, as he stood before the mirror, as burly and villanous-looking a fellow as one could wish to meet. Tall and sturdy, broad-shouldered and bullet- headed, he was evidently a giant in strength, while his red cheeks and whole appearance told that he was a drinker, a brawler, a frequenter of taverns, ‘‘ Shall I wake her?” he muttered to himself. Then he thought a moment, while he gazed upon her, ‘No, by heavens, I will not,” he said, as his eye caught sight of the key in the lock, “No, 1 will not wake her yet. I will take this oppor- tunity—and a fine one it ts, too—of having a look through thishouse, It strikes me there are some things here worth inspecting.” So saying, he left the sleeping beauty where she was, and crept across the room, Like a cat he went. Tall and bulky and unwieldy as he seemed, you could not hear his footatep. Slowly and stealthily he opened the door. The girl slept on. | Her dreams—foolish maid-—were of this burly ruffian. He had taken up her lamp as he went, and now he advanced along the passage. We will not follow him in all his movements. Suffice it to say that he visited nearly eve one of the rooms, and returned to the maid’s chamber with the green ring upon his finger. Then he placed down the lamp, and, having re-locked the door, approached the girl, Again he hesitated. Crime-stained, black-hearted villain as he was, there was a delicious pleasure to him to have those soft, warm, Innocent arms coiling round his neck, But yet no. If he woke her he might be discovered. Better thought he to forego this pleasure than run the risk of being seized and destroyed. With a sigh he gazed at her once more. Then he walked towards the window and opened it gently. The fresh air coming in upon the bosom of the young girl made her start uneasily in her sleep. There was no time to be lost. She would evidently soon wake. Leaping out, therefore, the robber re-closed the window, and, seeing that no one observed him, walked quickly away, He had not gone far when four men spran; out from the shadow, ‘* Hold!” cried one. going ?” “Who are you,” exclaimed the man, “that I should give an account to you?” “Tt is he!” whispered one, “See, he wears the ring now.’ ‘Yes, yes; at him, my boys!” cried another. ‘‘ Now, now, while the coast is clear!” added a fourth. He had scarcely time left him to draw his sword, : They attacked him like 80 many demons. In vain he protested and implored them to desist. In vain he begged of them to explain their meaning. They would make no answer. They were evidently intent upon his destruc- tion, and all the answer they gave was a fresh onslaught. \ It was no fight, It was a murder ! At him they went all together with their swords. First wounded here, now wounded there, he was driven back against the wall. At length strength deserted him, and he fell upon his knee. Still he fought on like a brave man. Although a thief he was nothing of a coward. But it was in vain to contend against such odda. One loud, gasping cry escaped from the lips of the wounded man, | One desperate cry for help and mercy too. But neither was accorded him. He was alone. The assassins were far too many for him. What could he do, then? With feeble blows he tried to sustain the fight till aid came, In vain. ' With loud imprecations the assassins dashed on him and all was over. Ag he fell with a gurgling, gasping cry, one of the murderers seized his hand. ‘We were not wrong,” he cried. “See, there is the ring.” “ True, true,” cried the others; “ we are right. The king’s enemy is dead.” __ With that the first speaker drew off the ring and the whole body hastened away. They proceeded at a rapid pace for some distance. Then they approached a house standing almost by itself, Here they rang loudly. They were not many minutes before they were admitted, Passing through a wild and deserted garden they now entered a large and gloomy-looking mansion, On making their way into the building and passing into a well-furnished room they found themselves in the presence of a lady—young and beautiful. She was tall, and dressed elegantly, in a fashion which set off to advantage a volup- tuously-moulded figure. | “ Whither are you EDOO