The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

$06 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, f “ And the bride?” ‘1a in her chamber.” “And Sir Henry, he lies or sits dosing under the influence of the drugged wine, I suppose f”” 66 No,” sé No bd pected, that false knave Blacklook has followed me to this spot.” “ And what then ?” asked Leicester. “ Simply that I have overheard the conference between you and him.” ‘“ T am a dead man,” said Blacklock, “ He declined drinkingfit.” “ The devil !"’ said Leicester. ‘‘ Blacklock ?” ‘¢ Yes, Leicester,” said the young man, “he is “My lord.” indeed akin to a devil who would embark in “If you have played me false——” the enterprise that you have mixed yourself up ‘‘ Which I have not.” in. Rascal! thief! dishonourable wretch! I “Well, well; go on, go on,” know you.” ‘The bridal chamber overlooks yonder spot, where you can dimly see a cypress tree.” ‘‘Ah! the window there with the light ?” “No, it is one above it; there is no light in it yet. Yes, there is; behold!” A flash of light in one of the rooms of the house suddenly illumined a large square window, with a baloony attached to it, which was covered with plants and flowers. ‘That is the room, my lord.” ‘Yea, yes ; and the shadow I see there is the shadow of the fair Alicia, is it not P” ‘3¢ is, I think.” “ Beautiful being ; can I live and think that ou are to be sacrified to such a man as Hastings? o, no; forbid it, love—forbid it, Heaven i” ‘Heaven, my lord, will not interfere in any of your affairs.” “Hold your tongue; tell me what other ar- wengements you have made in the matter ?” ‘‘To the baloony, outside that window, there are affixed the silken cords, forming the top of a rope ladder, which lie coiled up in the baloony, and only has to be let down from above when it will comfortably reach the ground.” “Good ; go on,” ‘‘ This to me ?” ‘¢ Ah! sir, and much more. Draw and defend yourself, 'caitiff that you are! I feel that I de- mean myself by crossing my sword against yours; but if I do not you will fly.” Ashe spoke, the young man drew his rapier, which flashed like a stream of light in the night alr as it caught a ray from the window of the bridal chamber, which appeared now to be the most fully illuminated room in the whole Ouse, OHAPTER XIX. THE DUEL—THE DEATH OF A TRAITOR—LORD LEICESTER'S SOHEME OF VILLANY— THE DRUGGED WINE, Lorp LeromsTEsr let his cloak fall from his shoulders, and divested his face from a half mask that was upon it, and with great apparent coolness he drew his sword, ‘¢ Your name is Changeling ?” he said. “ T am he,” ‘Ah! the nephew of the old rebel, Sir Robert of that name, Well, it is good service “Under the archway, at Whitefriars, is a 3 ; to the king. Come on, sir. coach ; but that your lordship knows about,” Po No, no |” cried Blacklock. 66 Gentlemen, do “I do; go on, “TI have no more to say; but that I, of course, wish your lordship all the suocess that can be yours in this little enterprise, and I hope you will not forget your promise to mo as regards a situation in your household; for, whether Sir H Hastings suspect me or not of aiding you in matter, I should not like to stay with him after it, Iam always expecting that he will find me out to be one of the outcasts of Alsatia, and your friend.” “Rely apon me; you know, or you ought to know, that ‘I stand so well with the king, that I can do anything I please, so consider your fortune as made; at least, if we fly safely to ce.” ‘TY will, sir. Ah! step aside; the gueats, I think, are beginning to go, and the music has ceased ; but what to make of Sir Henry Hastings for the life of me, I know not. There has seemed to be a settled gloom upon him for the whole day, and he looks as unlike a married man upon the day of his wedding as any one well can. Then there is that wild scamp of a fellow, Changeling, who, from a rascally apprentice, now pretends to be her cousin.” ‘ Ah! is he here?” The fy Bata a — ; : hen, from the shadow of a neighbouring tree, there stepped forth a cavalier. . ‘“ Tam here,” repeated he; “and, as I sus- not!” The swords runy together with a clashing sound, and then Blacklock became too deeply interested in the issue of the combat to say another word; but he stood oontorting his body tothe motions of the combatants, and scarcely daring to breathe lest it should inter- fere with his perception of what was going on. “ Ah!” cried Leicester, as he, suddenly, after an awfal lunge, slipped npon the damp grass, and nearly fell. “ Have at your false heart !"’ cried his young antagonist. And in a moment, his sword-hilt struck against the chest of Lord Leicester, who fell back with a deep groan. ‘* 89 perish as great a rascal as ever drow the breath of life,” said young Changeling. At the moment that he spoke, he received a blow upon the back of the head which nearly stunned him ; but he staggered over the body of Leicester, and, tarning dly, he saw Black- lock with a long billet of wood in his hands, about to repeat the blow, “ Ab | assassin !’’ cried the young man. “ Take your reward |” aga! Te bod Springing back n over Leicester's body, Changeling, with one plunge of his sword, ran Blackiock right through his body. ‘Oh! heavens | He pl Oh! mercy ! devils !” The raacal fell to ground, rolling over or me +¢ its Wipf COMMIEHOOKSEEOom