The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

) Z i , ‘ fy \o . presence of one whose heart, there could be no doubt, waa hound up in his welfare, while the only one left to hia was one whose very face and form were reminders to him of the one whom he had s0 grievously deceived, On the other hand he had embarked in a wild and terrible conspiracy, whose object waa &@ doubtful one and which sdmitted on its -lists such persons as Peter Quelf the dwarf. Peter Quelf | The very name to him, as it will be to,our readers, was redolent of evil. Cowardly murders, outrages, treacheries of all kinds, wexe associated with the memory of that misshapen being. Yet there was no receding now. He had entered on a career from which there was no retreat, Advance seemed to imply disgrace, and dis- honour, Retreat was death, No wonder, then, was it that his mind, was oppressed and gloomy, and that his face was pale and haggard, as he passed into the “ London Apprentice” and asked for a bed for the night. Had he been less pre-occupied he might have observed that sundry nods and ajgnificant glances passed between the landJoyd, and the landlady, As it was, however, he saw it not, but following the person who was appointed to him as a guide, passed up the stairs to, the room set apart for him. ‘There, exhausted by what had truly keen to him a night of terror and excitement, he fell aaleap and dreamed—of Mercy Marner. CHAPTER XI, THE MEETING AT THE “OLD OAK TREE ’'-—THE COUNCIL OF TEN—THE REAPPEARANCE OF PETER QUELF—HIS RECEPTION—THE NOISES WITHOUT—THE ALARM—HAROLD FORDYCE AND MAX BOWDEN SHOW PETER QUELF THAT THEY HAVE NOT QUITE FORGOTTEN: OLD SCORES OR THE USE OF THEIR SWORDS. ON the following evening at nine Ralph Lawson was punctual to his appointment, The man of. mystery, whom Harald Fordyce could at once have recognised asthe shadowy double of tha Armourer, waa there already. He came gliding, slidingly from out of the shadows, and, placed hia cold and heavy hand upon Ralph’s shoulder. . “Tam glad to see this punctuality,” he said, “it augurs well for your advancement,” Ralph smiled, grimly. ‘ Advancement,” he said, “in such a cause as that in which we are embarked; it. would be masiness to hope for advancement.” ‘Fear not, the cause is not hopeless,” returned the Man of Mystery, “but tell me whereis your employer.” ‘He is lying helpless, hopaless ; alas, almost dying near to his old home, at the house of a neighbour, one Richard Woodley.” “Have you seer him this day,?”’ ‘‘ T have 1” ‘* Has he heard aught of his daughter.” ‘He has not. Alas, poor Lucy !” And as Ralph spoke, hia voice ttembled violently, (toe af THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. nena “ Have they searched for her body?” ‘* They have !”’ ‘‘ And has any trace been found?” ‘None whatever |”’ The stranger clapped him on the shoulder. “Then, cheer up, friend ; she may live yet.” Ralph shook his head. “ Alas, no,” be said, ‘ from such a fiery.furnace as that which I saw glowing around her form, none could escape acathelessor even with life. No, no, she is gone, gone for ever.” “ Let us hope not ; but if she is gone then you remember what I told you of the lovely beings who will greet with smiles and love the friend of Charles the Second, Come!” ‘‘T care not for them,” thought Ralph. His thought was a true one for the moment, for the image of his lost Lucy was strong and fresh in his heart, and a vision, too, of Mercy Marner floated before his eyes. We shall see presently how well Mercy Marner deserved his love. The mysterious man led the way now into the “Old Oak Tree Inn,” and into a room upon the first floor, where already several of the city apprentices were assembled. The appearance of Ralph Lawson was greeted with loud acclamations, and he was Jed by the stranger to the further end of the room, where he was placed in a high chair, There were eight there besides him, but for some time no business was transacted. Presently, however, the door; waa opened to admit another visitor. This was Peter Quelf, the dwarf. He had grown somewhat, more especially in bulk, but this had in no wat detracted from his usual hideous and unnatural appearance, His mouth seemed, if anything, wider, and more thick-lipped than before, and his grin, ag the assemblage rose to greet him, was horrid in the extreme. ‘7 have strange news to. bring you,” he said. “T have just arrived from Holland, whence you may expect success ; but I have this day learned that one of your leaders ia arrested and in.the Tower.’ . ‘© Who is that?” asked the Man of. Mystery. ‘“ One who, to save his. own life, may betra us all,’ replied Peter Quelf. ‘‘ Lord Leicester. ? “This ig bad news, indeed,’ said the Un- known; “but. tell me—of what crime 1s he accused ?” Of murder.” ‘¢ Whose marder ?” ‘The murder of a kinsman of his newly- made wife, Lady Grace Cowley. But hark! What is that?” All listened. There was arasping noise at the window, as of some one attempting to enter. ‘Thera is some treason lurking about here,’’ said Quelf, as he approached the casement. ‘6 Are ye all armed?” Each apprentice, as he spoke, drew from beneath his cloak a sword. ‘Well done,” said Quelf, ‘and now that we know we can defend ourselves, let us see who comes here to betray us?” Ralph Lawson saw now it was high time to rouse himself, or the leadership of the ap- GOVE OO © SS) C Coe | CO