The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

176 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. Simon—were quite ready to play their part in the comedy, which they knew was about to take place. The ruin of a young girl, who confided in the truth and honesty of one, who, under a false name, affected to love her, was to them a common-place affair, And without a thought or regret for the evil they were about to do, they joined heart and hand in the infamous plan for the destruction of the fair Ellen. If we were to say that the king had no terrors upon the subject, we should, perhaps, be, at his age, giving him the discredit of a greater familiarity with vice than he really had. The career of dissipation which he had fallen into was in consequence of evil councillors surround- ing him; and it is certain that, during the day, he had several misgivings with regard to the course he agreed to pursue in this affair. By appointment, Colonel Blood met the king in his own apartments about one hour before the time appointed for the meeting with young Ellen. And whatever might have been his own qualms of conscience, they were soon smothered by the reckless manner in which those two dissolute persons, Blood and Simon, spoke of the affair. In fact, as is ever the case with a young mind that is thrown into vicious company, there was a lack of sufficient courage to assert better principles than were enunciated by that company. “Well, sire,” said Blood agi “you are a lucky fellow, upon my life,” : “Think you so?”’ “Think I so? I am sure of it, Simon?” ‘“‘ De-ci-ded-ly,”’ said Sirion always lucky.” “Well, then, I suppose I am,” said the king. “You are,” added Blood, “ in more ways than one.”’ “ But are all the hindrances got rid of ¢ rae All, sire.’ <c Good ; and we three alone, then, now occupy this suit of apartments ?” “Precisély so, sire ; and I have also said should any inquiry be made for you, you are not here.” “Good again; and the fair one is to be here at the hour of midnight. Is it not so ?”” ‘Tt is, sire.” “Very well, then, I act the bridegroom, Blood acts the parson, and Simon here acts the clerk. Who is to be the only witnesses of this marriage?”’ “By jove, I should like to change places with you, for from the transient glances I have had of the fair girl, she is positively bewitching.” The king was about to make some reply, but such a gust of wind, accompanied by a heavy dash of rain, at that moment came against the windows of the room in which they sat, that they all three sprang to their feet, with the full expectation that the casement was about to be blown in upon them at that moment, ‘What anight'!” said the k!ng. “ Surely she will not ccme. What think you, gentlemen, shall we indeed see the fair one to night?”’ “T say, yes,” replied Blood ; “I know she will be brought here for a certainty.” “And so do J,” said Simon, “for what, after all, will not love ‘adventure >”? And that she is desperately enamoured of your majesty, there cannot be a doubt upon any of our minds.” “Not the least,’’ said Blood ; “of course not.” * Well,’’ said the king, “ there i is certainly some- thing in that ; but as it is now near the time, I think it but civil that I should be near the door to receive her when she does come.”’ {¢ 12 AU 6 ee | _“ His majesty is ew ee Is he not saw) ‘Be it so, sire,” said Blood ; “and while you are gone, we will get ready for the parts we may be about to play. By the bye, which room will you take her into, your majesty ?” “The room next to this.” “Well, perhaps it will be better to do so, sire; and yet the next room that opens to the garden is most private, is it not ?” ‘“ Not so ; lights can be seen through its windows ; but that, to be sure, would not matter much. Hark!” . “Tt is the old clock.” The old clock chimed the three-quarters past eleven, and the king, wayis. - his hand to his friends, left the room, and took his way through a magnifi- cent suite of ‘chambers. * * * * * A handsome small saloon was already lighted, and into it the king at once made his way. And, flinging his cap and cloak upon the table, he shook a small silver bell that was at hand. A female attendant appeared as if by magic. ‘Oh, is that you, Lady Gordon ?” said the king. “ae Yes, sires £55 cS Well, there is a young lady here, I believe ; she has not long arrived,” _ “She has that honour, sire.” *‘T hope that she has been treated as belies her rank and honour.” | © Her rank and—and——Did you say virtue ?” The king bit his lips to ae himself from laugh- ing outright. And then, with feigned anger, he said, “Lady Gordon, do you think it impossible for a virtuous girl to find her way to this house? Do you dare to assert that because a young lady is brought here in rather a mysterious maaner, she is henceforth to have a slur cast upon hername? I am really ashamed of you, Lady Gordon.” “I humbly crave your pardon, I really did not know——” “Pshaw ! you ought to know !” *‘ As you please, sire.” “ Tell me at once, has the lady, who was brought here to-night, been treated with respect and con- sideration or not ? Answer me that. “T can assure you, sire, upon that point, that she has been treated with the greatest possible respect and attention ; and I can further say that I have been informed that she is rather impatient under her imprisonment.” “ Ab, indeed !” “ Even so, sire.” “ Has she made any attempt to escape ??’ “T cannot say that, sire ; but she has, in terms of indignant remonstrance, demanded her freedom, and proclaimed that she was innocent of all crime.”’ “Humph! Did she talk of her father ?” ‘No, sir; but she spoks of Sir Richard Warbeck.”’ “Tt is very strange that she should refer less to her father than to old Sir Richard, to whom she is no relative.” *‘ Yes, sire, and if you please, and—— “ Peace, Lady Gordon! Iwas only communing with myself ; you koow nothing of all this.” The lady bowed very low and retired a few paces, when the king rather abruptly said, “ Send Lady Connell to me.” te CB BITS Lady Gordon retired, and the king rose and paced the room. It was evident he was rather at a loss what to do. In the course of a few minutes Lady Connell made her appearance, and with rathera stately curtsey, saluted the king, bB boo =)