The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

ae \ (Ss or 204 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, . Young Apprentice. “ That is what I have worked for and hoped for.” With this hope in his heart, it may be readily imagined that Harold Fordyce was most eagerly anxious for the quick success of his journey, and if was with much pleasare, therefore, as may be conceived, that he sprang ashore upon the soil of France, Their mission was a secret one. Well knowing that the French court favoured so strongly the cause of the Stuarts, Cromwell was anxious to hear how far the’ Frenoh govern- ment intended to assist them, so There resided in an old house near the city of Paris, a French count of the name of Beauville, who was an earnest friend of the English Republicans, and was the chief of a formidable conspiracy in the French capital. The Count de Beauville, in fact, hoped that by cementing the friendship of the French and English people, he would be enabled to frame a government of a similar kind in France. To this man’s house the Young Apprentice and his master were making their way. He above all others knew the sentiments of the French Government, and could inform them in what way it was best for Cromwell to guard against invasion, After resting themselves for a while at Calais, they obtained horses at the inn where thty had stopped, and proceeded in the dark night towards Paris. hey had scarcely quitted the town, when a tall man, disguised in a cloak, and with his hat pressed down over his brows so as to conceal hia features, quitted the inn, and proceeded in all haste to the office of the prefect of police. The prefect was just about retiring to rest when the disguised man came to the door, and the prefect was not in the best of humours at being disturbed. “What do you want, Gabonche?” cried he, ° sitting down by his fire in a long dressing gown, “ what do you want disturbing me in the middle of the night? I’m sure you cannot have any- thing very important to communicate.” “You are wrong Monsieur Tailleur,” replied the other. Monsieur Tailleur's cheeks puffed out with rage. ‘‘ Wrong, sir! wrong, sir!” he cried, ‘“* What do you mean, sir? How dare you, sir, impute error to me ?” ‘“‘ Because you are in error, sir,” replied Gabouche, ‘in this instance, I bring you most strange and unaccountable tidings. You are aware that his Royal Highness Prince Charles of England, or, rather, I should say, his Most Gracious Majesty Charles the Second of Eng- Jand landed in Calaia yesterday morning 2” “Tam aware of it. Is this the great news you bring?” ‘“‘Itia not, I bring the news that two other important personages landed here to-night, and have just started for Paris.’’ ‘‘ And pray who are these?” ‘¢ Pwo emiasaries of Cromwell.’ “ What want they ?”’ ‘“ f know not,” ‘‘ And why, instead of allowing them to escape in thie manner and afterwards coming to bother me, aid you not arrest them, and place them in gaol,’ “ Because,” cried M. Gabouche, who regarded himeelf as a hero, “ because it shall never be said that Monsieur Henri Gabouche involved his country in a war with England ; besides, which is, perbaps, for you a more matter-of-fact reason, they had their papers duly signed by Cromwell, and countersigned by the French ambassador.”’ ‘“* Then what do you propose?" “ To follow them and seize their papers.” _ “ Against the very spirit of the law itself,” *‘ Jt mattera not. Let us seize them—deprive them of their papers, and then——”’ ‘“‘ Aye, what taen ?”’ “ We can arrest them.” The prefect smiled, ‘‘ You are a great rascal, Gabouche.” The man bowed, “‘T know it, sir,” he said; “bat say, is my plan a good one ?” “ ¥ think it is.” “Then give me @ companion, some money, and two horses, and I guarantee before they reach Paris to be in full possession of their secret.” * T cannot see or understand how ye intend to catch up with them.” * “+ Rasily,” “And in what way? They have horses as well as you.” ‘They have; but you must also remember that they have no suspicion that they are fol- lowed. They will take the journey easily, reat at inns and so forth, so that ere they are half way to Paris, we shall be close at their heels,” “ Well—well, if you are so confident, have it as you wish. Here is a note to our lientenant, Tallache—he will send a good man with you, and will, besides, give you a couple of first-rate horses, Oatch these men, prove that they are worth the trouble, and your reward, you may truly believe, will be a grand one,” So saying, he wrote a few lines upon a slip of paper, and handed it to Gabouohe. The latter took it, read it, and bowing, quitted the room, “Now,” he said, exultingly, “I have but to succeed and I shall be as high as Monsieur Tallache—the great, the clever Tallache.”’ The great—the clever Tallache, a tall, wiry, grey-haired, consequential party—received him with exceeding dignity. On readii.g the note, however, he smiled, ‘“You are going on a wild-goose chase, Mon- sieur Gabouche.”’ ‘‘No, [am not. I shall return victorious.” “Very well. Iwill give you for your com- panion our bestman. Here, Gilbert Osmere.’ After a moment the door opened. A tall, raw-boned, red-haired man made his appearance, “* W hat is if, sir?” “ Monsieur Gabouche, and you, and two horses are going upon a wild-goose chase,”’ The man bowed. - I will go and procure the hores, then,” he said, Then he retired, Gabouche laughed. “Very good,” he said ; “ that is just the man IT want, He seems to do as you tell him and GOMES O146S