The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. )\ . 67 “No.” “Then your blood be upon your own head !”’ cried Lord Raymond. In order to understand what followed, it is n to explain that Lord Raymond was standing near to the Unknown, and that the others were some two yards distant. No sooner had Raymond uttered the words which were to consign the Man without a Name to a terrible death, than the latter sprang aside, and pressed his hand violently against the wall. In an instant the flooring of the room where the eight cavaliers stood gave way beneath their feet, and before one of them could escape, they were plunged into the darkness beneath, One of them, in his efforts to save himself, clutched at the scabbard of Raymond's sword, and nearly dragged him with him, But the traitor contrived to save himself, and staggered nearly upon the Unknown as he did 80. The latter at once drew his sword. “Now, then, my Lord Raymond,” he said, calmly, ‘‘ we are on even terms once more.” Raymond drew forth his weapon with a loud oath, and sprang back. Yes, villain |” he shouted, “ Fate protects you now, but it shall not be for long. Some day or another we shall be on terms of a different D Aad While he spoke, Harold plainly saw that he was drawing a pistol from his girdle. In an instant Harold sprang to his feet, and, rushing down stairs, he was in the large room before either of the foes had recovered from the surprise occasioned by the sound of his coming. Lord Raymond broke into a sneering langh as he entered. “ Ah | here is our model apprentice—our heir to Thurston's property,” he said ; “do you bring him with you as a protector!” | * No, I do not,” cried the Unknown, “ nor do I know how or why he came.” “‘T came,” said Harold, “to search for some- thing in this house, I have appeared at this moment because I saw Lord Raymond in the act of committing a murder and wished to prevent him. Put that pistol backin your girdle, my lord,” he added, “if you area man, and fight oue man fairly,” ‘‘Insolent boy !" cried the traitor, furiously; “ the hour will arrive sooner or later when I can chastise you. As for you,” he added, to the Unknown—“ let him say what he will; let him accuse me of what he will—-what can you expect? Have I not seen eight of my friends murdered by you before my eyes?” ** Not one of those men has received the least injury through me,” said the Unknown, “except maybe their clothes are damped and dirted if the cellar chances to be inundated. I do not deal in wholesale murder as you do. Pat up your sword, and take my advice, fight no more openly or secretly with me, I will see at any rate that we have no more meetings here. As it is, I would not have come had not the words of your letter conveyed to my mind the idea that you were in some degree penitent for the past.’’ “ What, then, if I go? said Lord Raymond. “ How can I assure myself of the safety of my friends f”’ “I will restore them to you in a few moments,” returned the Unknown. “Go, Harold, to the top of the Lane ; you will see there a troop of Parliamentary horsemen equipped for a journey north, Tell any one of them that twenty are wanted at once at the old house. Givethe word ‘England and Cromwell,’ if you are asked, but bid them be quick, Return with them, but do not enter the house again, 1 can assure my own safety.” Harold at once hurried off upon his errand. At the end of the steep lane he saw a company of stalwart soldiers standing by their horses, and one of the first whom his eyes fell upon was Ben Firebrace, still dripping wet from his immersion in tbe river. Ben,” cried Harold, “twenty men are required at once below at the old house.” “ Ah! Harold, brave lad,” said the trooper, seizing his hand, and wringing it strong'y as in a vice; “right glad am I to see you. You fual- filled your mission for me like a man ; but it was all of no use. That villain, Harry Martin, betrayed her.” “In what way?” “ He pretended to be her friend. Now, then, my men, this way —— Yes; he pretended to be her friend and mine, and no sooner was my back turned, than he began making love to her. He'found no grace in her eyes, J can tell you; but poor Lizzie has suffered for her love for me,” “J told you all I knew,” said Harold. “Yes ; but how she got out of the river boya’ home J can’t tell, or why she went,” said Ben ; “but somehow I’ll find out, and woe be to him that tries to hinder me.” “ Bat tell me, Ben,” asked Harold, just as they neared the old house; “how did you sham ill- ness 80 well just now, and why ?” “T was attacked by Lord Raymond's friends,” said Ben. ‘See, we can halt, now. There is our oolonel’s signal of safety from the window. Yes; I was attacked by Lord ltaymond’s friends, and having heard what their errand was, I took advantage of a slight wound to smear the blood over my face, and fall as if convulsed by mortal agony. You know the rest.” “Yes; and are you really now in the service of Lord Clement Villiers ?” Yes ; he is colonel of our troop, He is now in London with Lady Blanche. To-morrow night at eight o’clock they will be married at St, Stephen’s chapel near Eastcheap, But here comes our colonel.” a The Unknown, as he spoke, appeared at the oor, “Tell me,” said Harold, hurriedly, to Ben Firebrace, “tell me what is his name?” «Noone knows. We call him the General, is all we know of him. He is a living mystery—a good man who desires no one to understand him.” ‘‘You can pass on, my men,’’ said the Man without a Name; “ your presence is no longer uired,” Ben bowed, and led his men away. “ Harold,” continued his benefactor, “a word arold eagerly went to his side, and he pro- ceeded — ‘You are a brave, honest lal, Goon as you do now, and you will make a good and a great | ( Con ENVOKsS CO