The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “T will do as you desire,” he said ; “and now since all is arranged, there is one little question yet to answer.” “ And what is that ?”’ “ The reward,” The chief smiled, “ You have not earned it,” he said. ‘TI know it,” returned the tall, gaunt ruffian, “IT know it ; but in these matters it is as well to have the reward first. In a mélée such as we are about to engage in, one’s head may be off, oF one’s heart pierced before one is well aware of it.” “ True ; what do you want ?” “The reward is to be a hundred pounds in gold to each of us two, and a golden guinea to every man who follows us.” “That is right ; we will, then, -give you half your reward now, Here are a hundred golden coins : take fifty pieces each. See that they are correct.”’ | Blacklock counted them carefully. ‘‘ This is correct,” he said ; ‘I will go at once to the place where I believe I can meet with a number of friends. If I save not the king it shall not be any fault of theirs.” “You will well assisted,” pursued tho masked chief. “ I have reasons for hoping. that a number of the soldiers around the acaffold will join us ; and besides this we expect a largo reinforcement of Dutch troops to arrive. And now, as the time is short, haste away, and prepare for the deed which shall free England from the tyranny of the faction who now rule it.”’ In a few moments Blacklock and his com- panion were once more in the open air. “We have a fine task before us, friend Black- lock,” said the latter. “We have, Dennis; never ‘mind, we shall go through with it.” | “I have no doubt of that, But come, now, let us hasten to a safe place where we can divide the swag.” “You are afraid, I suppose, that I shall keep it all. Well, well,” said Blacklock, laughing, ‘it would be better, perhaps, if I did; if you have it now, you will only be drunk before morning.” “Not I. I will not spend it,” said Dennis: “but I like the feel of the golden coin. We will go to the ‘Three Pigeons,’ in Hotspur Street j we shall meet some brave boys there, “ Very lock ; “‘ but remember, there are grave thiaga to be completed to-morrow, and you must keep from the drink,” Proceeding at a rapid pace they sped along the dark highway the direction of the Strand. At a little public-house or inn, situated near the river, and standing by itself, they halted, and peeped through the diamond-paned window, from which e glow ef light streamed out upon the river. “There are twenty of our chaps there,’’ cried Blacklock ; ‘we shall not have far to go.” Entering boldly, they passed into a large room, which wera filled to excess by a motley company, most of the members of which were in a state of semi-inebriation, woll, Dennis, we will go,” said Biack- . The atmoephere of the room was dense with amoke. Oaths and snatches of songs filled the air. Here and there were females of the loweat class drinking and singing and lying about helplessly, or sitting on the men’s laps. It was a scene of low vice and debauchery ; and the entrance of Blacklock and his companion was greeted with a lond yell of welcome. After the firat noisy welcome was over, the two new comers seated themselves at a table some- what apart, and prepared to divide the booty and arrange matters for the morning. As they were counting the money, Dennis felt a soft arm steal round his neck, and looking up he saw beside him a young girl, not more than seventeen, dreased in a fanciful dress. She was pretty, had a good fl a neck and shoulders which would have done credit to a° duchess, and long, dark, wavy hair. But her eyes were dulled and spoiled by dis- sipation. Her skin was rapidly becoming coarse from drink, and her voice was thick and hoarse. Her skin was even now dried and heated with large potations, but she was not too drunk to observe the gold, although both the men made every attempt to hide it. Her eyes at once were lighted up with a strange glare. As to all of her class money was a power supreme, “ Why, Hal Dennis,” she .cried, [patting his rough h “vou're a gentleman.” ‘Tam not,” said the man, surlily. “T saw your gold.” arma turned towards her with a savage oath. &6 What the— —_?? Blacklock stopped him, and whispered in a low tone in his ear. “Hold !" he said, “Are yon mad that you run your neck thus into peril wilfully? Speak kindly to her; keep her here, and stand her drink, or we'll be robbed of every farthing ere we quit this place to-night,”’ “Trae, true,” mattered Dennis. ‘“ Here, Floretta, sit down by us and have some wine,” The girl’s eyes gliatened as he spoke, and after casting a look across the room at some one who was at the opposite corner, she sat down between the two men. Blacklock was evidently uneasy. He kept looking again and again at the girl, and then significantly at his companion. He evidently feared some foul piay. The girl smiled radiantly upon Dennis, and drank the wine with one arm around his neos.' “ Don't drink, Dennis, don't drink,” Blacklock kept saying. . ut it was of no avail. The man was intoxicated with excitement, and did not care what he did or said. “ This wine is beautiful, and must have coat a deal of money,” said the girl. ‘* Oh | money | Never mind that, I've plenty," cried Dennis, foolishly. “7 know you have, my dear,”’ said Floretta, “I saw them shining, and I know you'll give me some, won’t you?” CONTE OOO "sG) «= aSi ee COON