The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

4, .U): OS a 278 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OB, ‘Come, captain, rouseup. I start, now, on my mission, and ere darkness falls over the earth I'll be here again.” So saying, the rich thief, in prospect, swag- gered out éf the room, and left Leicester himself. He had no sooner done so than the landlord of the inn entered. He was a regular swash-buckler; a burly, red-haired fellow, with heavy features and an unpleasant twinkle in his round grey eyes. A man who had evidently in the first place fled to Alsatia as a refuge, and who had, since his so- journ there, become one of the sots and debau- chees of that moet terrible of sanctuaries. He bowed with mock politeness to Lord Leicester. ‘Ah! myduke—my prince! Iam delighted to see you. I havea letter here for you.” He handed one as he spoke. It was a little note, and the superscription was in a female hand. ‘Many thanks,” cried Leicester, tearing it open ; ‘it is from one whom I had feared I had lost sight of.” It was indeed from Alicia. It was very short, and ran thus :— “DRAREST LEKESTSR,— To-morrow, at dawn, I will be with you.” A ray of hope entered the decefver’s heart, “Good!” he murmured, “good! By dawn, to-morrow, I shall be a rich man, and Alicia can be mine.” Then he turned to the landlord, who stood rubbing his handa, “ Who brought this?” he asked, eagerly. ‘A lad. One who seemed about seventeen or eighteen. ‘A stranger?” “Yes, quite so, I had fears that he might be robbed, and I sent those with him who would protect him.” “And ease his pockets, too,” suggested Lei- cester, with a smile. “Phat may he; though it strikes me very forcibly that it was nota youth at all,” returned Boniface, “ Who, then ?” “ A woman disguised.” , “ What mates you think this?” “Well,” returned the old man, with a leering look, “well, I am getting on, now, in years; and perhaps I am not quite such a good judge as you might imagine; but I'll tell you that if ever auy youth had such a bust or such round limbs as this person, then I’ll eat my head.” “ Peace |” cried Leicester, “ I don’t doubt you, You have seen the messenger safely guarded ?” ‘‘ T have.” ‘You have done well. Here is a piece of gold. See that those who come to me are properly treated and you shal! be well rewarded, I promise you. At present I would be alone.”’ The landlord laughed. ‘Well, my lord—my prince,” he said, as he placed the gold piece in his pocket, “I thank you much for your liberality ; but, truth to tell, Alsatia is no place for quiet or for being alone. I do a good trade, and those who want a house. all te themselves must go elsewhere to find it. You'll find this room crammed with the merriest men in Whitefriars presently, and, if you'll take my advice, which I give withont intending an offence, you'll be careful what you say and do. “TY will,” said Leicester, “ fear not ; your house shall not be stained with blood on my account, at least, if J can help it.” The landlord now went out and left him to himself. But he soon found that the warning was needed. Not an hour had passed before the place was crammed. Tall, stout bullies; thin, spare, downcast looking men; the strong and the weak; the brave and the craven; the assassin and the gentleman ; the thief and the wrongly-accueed had in this terrible asylum to consort together. They all glanced suspiciously at Leicester as they entered. But this was soon changed by the landlord. He entered, rubbing his hands and smiling as usual, " ‘A gentleman,” he said; “let me introduce to you a new friend—a gentleman of means— who will pay handsomely for his introduction to uu.” "He bowed, sneeringly almost, at Leicester as he spoke, Leicester, however, knew well what was beat to be done. “Yes, my friends,” he cried; ‘‘what would you all wish?” -As he spoke, he flung a gold piece upon the table. ‘ Wine, wine; nothing less than wine!” shouted the Alsatians. Leicester threw down another coin of like value. - ‘‘Give them, tapster, wine,” he said; “and don’t keep gentlemen of this stamp waiting.’’ The landlord looked angry enough, but he said nothing. ‘He had a good eustomer, and his plan was to keep him in good humour. In a few minutes he returned with the wine. As soon as the bottles were on the table, a tal), burly, swash-buckler rose, “Now, then, gentlemen,” he cried, “ charge your glasses.” It was done. “The health of our new friend!” he cx- claimed. The toast was drunk vehemently, and then the glasses were recharged, and toast after toast was drank till evening came. Wine flowed freely, and songs and jesta abounded. Yet no ill blood was excited. All seemed, with one accord, to look upon one another as companions in crime, and as friends, whom they were bound to help, and aid, and stand by. At length, evening came, and Blacklock arrived. He was in high spirits, and came in laughing and singing a stave of a merry song. ‘‘ You seem in a happy state of mind, Black- lock,” cried Leicester, who was himeelf under the influence of liquor; but not sufficiently to make him lose hig senses, or to martbe chance of success. GOVE OO © aM eS CO (c: ' - Sp lin