The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 280: what you’re looking at

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OO 274 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. London and report all we know of the drowned man,” | The two detectives took conveyance to the nearest railway station, and early next day found them- selves at Scotland Yard. They detailed all that had happened, and Detec- tive Gale bit his lips with passion. ‘* Dead !” said he. ‘Yes, dead as a door-nail; he was drowned in the wreck,” JES, “ How unfortunate; for I have Bot one of the old scoundrels in custody already, and have good hopes of securing the others in aféw days. It was rather clever of you, though, not 66 Pretend to know the young rascal on the veyage.” 3 g “Yes; but you see wé ive not been successful after all, though we deserved to by ‘ “T received information from’ Déghorn of all that has happened,” said Gale ; “it Was senb to me by Tomasso, signed by the prefect 6f police; and came by the mail steamer a week in advance of you, and I had good hopes o£ Seeing the young rascal safe in your hands; fo¥ f have iio @oubt he had much to do with setting fire: tothe Custom House and storehouses*in the harbour. Hé Slinvst killed Tomasso with a blow from his oat. \ Poriasso is getting better, however, but Vows. Vengeahce against young Flint, and sweats he'll. come to London, and never rest wiitil he captures him.” » ‘‘He’ll be very smart, then, I think,” said one of the detectives, laughing, |“ considering that this young Flint is down among the fishes.” ee But, luckily for himself, Joét Was not “@oWn among the fishes,” but was up to his eyes in plea- sure and debauchery. . 4 nk For when he arrived in Lon@oity Joel lost nd time in decorating himself with all that money @ould buy, and hired lodgings in s@¥eral direétions, so that, in case of suspicion or flight, he could find 4 place of temporary refuge. ~~ Bae It will not be wondered At, therefore, that he purchased and wore all manner of disguises, which so well suited him, that his most intimate friends would have been deceived. So well did he manage matters, that he frequently saw in the streets the two detectives who had been on board the “ Dolphin,” but they did not recognise im, This gave Joel fresh courage, and he resolved to find out the whereabouts of his father, if possible. But this seemed to be a work of impossibility, for he had long left his old haunts, neither could any one give the least information, except the police ; and those gentlemen, as may be supposed, were the very last Joél wished to make acquaintance with, He was dressed splendidly on all occasions, and took frequent exercise on horseback. He cantered and galloped about Rotten Row like some grandee or prince, and went by the name of ‘* Count,”’ ; While out one day galloping about, he espied the carriage of Mr, Lancaster, and in it sat Nelly, look- ing more beautiful than ever, but still sad, melan- choly, and deadly pale. Her father, the old banker, was with her, ald, as the vehicle passed along, Joel bit his lip in anger.® “ve got a grudge against old Lancastét,”, he thought, “and now that no one knows. me, I will haye reyenge on the old man for the yery scurvy manner in which he seryed me in Italy, IfI could only frame a good excuse to speak to speak to him, the thing would be easy enough; for once I am introduced to Nelly again, it will not take me long to elope with her, for I know ghe is beginning to hate her cross-grained, tuft-hunting father,” For several days Joel dressed out in the grandest style of fashion, sought those promenades and drives where the rich are wont to go, and saw Nelly and her father as usual. He followed the old banker home, and noting the house and number, resolved to call there when the evening had fairly set in. “ For,” thought Joel, “although my disguise is faultless, I don’t Wait to throw any chance away, for the old miser’s eyé8 Are wonderfully sharp and piercing.” : W én night eaine, therefore, Joel boldly walked up to the banker’s house, and rang the visitor's bell loudly, A tall footman opened the door. Joel handed his card, which was placed on a silver salyér, and taken up to old Lancaster. “ Count Schmidt,” mused the old banker, looking at the card, “ Count Schmidt! I don’t know any such person,’ ~“ Perhaps you may have forgotten, papa, this par- ticular person, for when abroad you were intro- ‘duced to so many persons of title,” said Nelly. ‘ Justso, daughter, just so. You see, in Italy and Germany, one meets oe so many titled person- ages, that really I pet! orgotten the names of two thirds or more, Show the gentleman up,” said old Lancaster. In a few moments, Joel Flint, as bold as brass, ascended the matble staircase, and entered the drawing-room, _ Nelly Lancaster rose from the piano, and her father bowed to the stranger: “Count Schmidt, £ believe,” said the old banker, , ey Ie “Your ba ble #efvaht. Joel replied, with a well-feignéd foreigh accent; bowing profoundly. “You come from Leghorn, I believe ?” “T do} although that is not my residence, or ‘And might I ask the #@Asons on motives for this visit, six?” “With pleasure, sir,’ said Joel, smiling, and taking a seat. “You did not know me, I believe, in Leghorn ?” | said the old banker, ‘No, sir, I had not that honour, for I was not then in Leghorn; but I laye the satisfaction of knowing that the hospitality and urbanity.of Mr. Lancaster, together with the beauty and accom- plishments of Miss Nelly, your daughter, caused the most favourable, nay, profound impressions among @ large ‘circle of my noble relations and friends in Italy.” This compliment seemed to pledse the vain old man, who smiled graciously, and bowed. “ You have relations there, then, Count ?” ‘Oh, yes, many, very many, indeed; some of © them near of kin to royalty.” | This information pleased old Lancaster still more, who felt very grand indeéd, “But, sir, 1 do nof come to compliment you only,” said Joel, still imitatin+ 9 foreigner speaking broken English ; “ but am_ desirous of asking your advice, for I ;have £10,000, if, indéed, not more, to which I desire to lay out to the best advantage, and my noble friends jin Léghotn have spoken in such glowing terms of your ability aud wisdom that _ “I feel flattered,” said old Laneasté:, “and shall be delighted, of coursé, to have the disposition of 80 large a sum,” . “T dare say you would,” thought Joel; “but I am not going to let you have it for all that, you EoOmichboo (©