The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

‘2 78 He went on and on without hesitation, turning first to the right and then to the left, until he came right out in the country. At length he arrived opposite a big house where the gates were supported on either side by high heavy pillars. ‘‘ This must be the place,” he said, and, gliding vp beneath the wall, be crept away to the rear of the premises. Here he found himself on a matshland, where there was scarcely a bush or a tree available for concealment. Glancing up at the back of the house, he saw a light glimmering in a room high above him. To the two windows of this room were iron bars. He counted them, and found twelve in each. His heart leaped with joy as he saw this. He had discovered Lord Raymond’s secret. He had it nowin his power, by acting pru- dently, to thwart the villain whom he, of all others, hated most cordially. Carefully noting the spot, therefore, where the house stood, the Young Apprentice made his way once more into the high road, and walked rapidly towards home, The next morning he dispatched a letter to Lord Clement Villiers, informing him of his discovery, and begging him to send him instrac- tions how to act. To this he received an answer in a week, begging him to keep watch, but not to do any- thing precipitate, or to allow them te know that he was observing their actions. He promised to bé up in London at the be- ginning of the following week, and he kept his word. Ooming up after dusk one evening, he had a long interview with the armourer, after which Harold was called in. “‘ Harold,” said the giant, smilingly ; ‘I have heard that you have been elected Captain of the Apprentices. You are now in possession of a great power, and we are going to ask you to use it. Through you Lord Villiers has discovered the place where his wife is concealed, and, throngh yonr aid, he may be enabled to deliver er.’ “Tf Zcan do anything, I shall be delighted to do it for Lord Villiers,” said Harold,feagerly. ‘‘ There is danger,” said the giant, “Of that I am _ never afraid,” returned Harold. “I think I have before proved that.” “Good; such I had aupposed wonld be your answer,’ returued the armourer. ‘ Listen, then, my lad, and we will explain. Treachery must be met by treachery, more especially in this case, Lord Villiers will write a letter to Lord Raymond in which ho will imitate the writing of one of his special friends. This letter will have to be delivered into the hands of Lord Raymond by a trusty messenger, and this messenger will be kept in the house all night. In the middle of the night he must endeavour to reach the room where Lady Blanche is confined, and remove the bars from the windows. Then he will drop from the casement a cord which will be spire be- low by Lord Villiera, who will be w@iting there — THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, with a trusty body of your fellow apprentices. He will then draw up the cord and fasten the rope, which will then be attached to it to the bed, and thus Lady Villiers will be enabled to deacend. You and Richard Langham, Gregory Anvil’s apprentice, fixed up those bars and you will be the beat to remove them.” ‘‘ Yes, sir,” said Harold. ‘It took hours to fix them up. It would take but half an hour to remove them if I had the proper tools.” “You are willing, then, to enter the house as the messenger f"” ‘“T am, sir—on one condition.” “ Which ie—-” ‘ That I go alone.” “Alone! And pray why do you despise the aid of others?” ‘* Because it would be safer to be alone, and it would, moreover, do away with all sus- picion.” “Do you think, however, that you could dis- guise yourself sufficiently to pass as a stranger to Lord Raymond f” ‘Yea, sir; if I were to disguise myself asa man with a beard, and 80 on, I have no doubt I could. At any rate, | am willing to try.” “Good ; then to-morrow night we will make the attempt. In the meanwhile you can choose those of your companions whom you wish to accompany yon, and let them come to this house at dusk to-morrow.” “T shall only bring one—Dick Langham. He will be able to keep watch while Lord Villiers scales the rope. More would only excite sus- picion uselessly.”’ “Well, well, have it all your own way,” said the armourer. “ You shall not make a failare and lay it to us,” On the following evening, at dark, Lord Villiers presented himself at the house of Frank Leslie, and a short time after Harold entered the room where he sat eagerly consulting with the armourer. It was Harold—but Harold so disguised that it would have been impossible to be recognised, except when he purposely spoke in his own voice, He had a black beard, a black wig, a large moustache of the same hne overshadowed his mouth, while shaggy eye-brows obscured the youthful light of his eyes. He had darkened his complexion with some strong walnut juice, and, completing his disguise by his suit of clothes, fitted only for a man of forty, he was completely changed, “Well, I think you'll do well,” said the armourer, witha smile, “YI did not know you myself until you spoke. Lord Villiers, will you give him the letter and the instructions ?” ‘Here it is,” said Lord Clement. ‘“ You aro to say that you have just arrived from the camp of the kine with special news and orders. The watchword, is ‘For the King and England.’ Be careful not to forget it, for to do so would be death. Go, and may Heaven watch over you.” ‘“‘ Shall I go on in advance ?” “Yes; I will follow within carahot until we are in sight of the house, and then I will wait until [ have seen you enter, after which I will GOVE OOO wi = tf ( . - ra ma