"Who are you, ruffian, and to what end is this masquerade assumed? If for the purpose of terrifying me into compliance with the schemes of that madman, Luke Bradley, whom I presume to be your confederate, your labour is misspent—your stolen disguise has no more weight with me than his forged claims."
"Forged claims. Egad, he must be a clever man to have forged that certificate. Your ladyship, however, is in error. Sir Luke Rookwood is no associate of mine; I am his late father's friend. But I have no time to bandy talk. What money have you in the house? Be alive."
"You are a robber, then?"
"Not I. I'm a tax-gatherer—a collector of Rich-Rates—ha! ha! What plate have you got? Nay, don't be alarmed—take it quietly—these things can't be helped—better make up your mind to it without more ado—much the best plan—no screaming, it may injure your lungs, and can alarm nobody. Your maids have done as much before—it's beneath your dignity to make so much noise. So, you will not heed me? As you will." Saying which, he deliberately cut the bell-cord, and drew out a brace of pistols at the same time.
"Agnes!" shrieked Lady Rookwood, now seriously alarmed.
"I must caution your ladyship to be silent," said the robber, who, as our readers will no doubt have already conjectured, was no other than the redoubted Jack Palmer. "Agnes is already disposed of," said he, cocking a pistol. "However like your deceased 'lord and master,' I may appear, you will find that you have got a very different spirit from that of Sir Piers to deal with. I am naturally the politest man breathing—have been accounted the best-bred man on the road, by every lady whom I have had the honour of addressing; and I should be sorry to sully my well-earned reputation by anything like rudeness. I must use a little force, of the gentlest kind. Perhaps, you will permit me to hand you to a chair. Bless me! what a wrist your ladyship has got. Excuse me, if I hurt you, but you are so devilish strong. What ho! 'Sir Piers Rookwood calls—'"
"Ready," cried a voice.
"That's the word," rejoined another; "ready," and immediately two men, their features entirely hidden by a shroud of black crape, accoutred in rough attire, and each armed with pistols, rushed into the room.
"Lend a hand," said Jack.
Even in this perilous extremity, Lady Rookwood's courage did not desert her. Anticipating their purpose, ere her assailants could reach her, she extricated herself from Palmer's grasp, and rushed upon the foremost so unexpectedly, that, before the man could seize her, she snatched a pistol from his hand, and presented it at the group with an aspect like that of a tigress at bay—her eye wandering from one to the other, as if selecting a mark.
There was a pause of a few seconds, in which the men glanced at the lady, and then at their leader. Jack looked blank.
"Hem!" said he, coolly; "this is something new—disarmed—defied by a petticoat. Hark ye, Rob Rust; the disgrace rests with you. Clear your character, by securing her at once. What! afraid of a woman?"
"A woman!" repeated Rust, in a surly tone; "devilish like a woman, indeed. Few men could do what she has done. Give the word, and I fire. As to seizing her, that's more than I'll engage to do."
"Then damn you for a coward," said Jack. "I will steer clear of blood—if I can help it. Come, madam, surrender, like the more sensible part of your sex, at discretion. You will find resistance of no avail." And he stepped boldly towards her.
Lady Rookwood pulled the trigger. The pistol flashed in the pan. She flung away the useless weapon, without a word.
"Ha, ha!" said Jack, as he leisurely stooped to pick up the pistol, and approached her ladyship; "the bullet is not yet cast that is to be my billet. Here," added he, dealing Rust a heavy thump upon the shoulder with the butt-end of the piece, "take back your snapper, and look you prick the touch-hole, or your barking-iron will never bite for you. And now, madam, I must take the liberty of again handing you to a seat. Dick Wilder, the cord—quick. It distresses me to proceed to such lengths with your ladyship—but safe bind, safe find, as Mr. Coates would say."
"You will not bind me, ruffian."
"Your ladyship is very much mistaken—I have no alternative—your ladyship's wrist is far too dexterous to be at liberty. I must furthermore request of your ladyship to be less vociferous—you interrupt business, which should be transacted with silence and deliberation."
Lady Rookwood's rage and vexation at this indignity were beyond all bounds. Resistance, however, was useless, and she submitted in silence. The cord was passed tightly round her arms, when it flashed upon her recollection, for the first time, that Coates and, Tyrconnel, who were in charge of her captive in the lower corridor, might be summoned to her assistance. This idea no sooner crossed her mind than she uttered a loud and prolonged scream.
"Damnation!" cried Jack; "civility is wasted here. Give me the gag, Rob!"
"Better slit her squeaking-pipe at once," replied Rust, drawing his clasped knife; "she'll thwart everything."
"The gag, I say, not that."
"I can't find the gag," exclaimed Wilder, savagely. "Leave Rob Rust to manage her—he'll silence her, I warrant you, while you and I rummage the room."
"Ay, leave her to me," said the other miscreant. "Go about your business, and take no heed. Her hands are fast—she can't scratch—I'll do it with a single gash—send her to join her lord, whom she loved so well, before he's under ground. They'll have something to see when they come home from the master's funeral—their mistress cut and dry for another. Ho, ho!"
"Mercy, mercy!" shrieked Lady Rookwood.
"Ay, ay, I'll be merciful," said Rust, brandishing his knife before her eyes. "I'll not be long about it. Leave her to me—I'll give her a taste of Sir Sydney."
"No, no, Rust; no bloodshed," said Jack, authoritatively; "I'll find some other way to gag the jade."
At this moment, a noise of rapid footsteps was heard within the passage.
"Assistance comes," screamed Lady Rookwood. "Help! help!"
"To the door," cried Jack. The words were scarcely out of his mouth before Luke dashed into the room, followed by Coates and Tyrconnel.
Palmer and his companions levelled their pistols at the intruders, and the latter would have fired, but Jack's keen eye having discerned Luke amongst the foremost, checked further hostilities for the present. Lady Rookwood, meanwhile, finding herself free from restraint, rushed towards her deliverers, and crouched beneath Luke's protecting arms, which were extended, pistol in hand, over her head. Behind them stood Titus Tyrconnel, flourishing the poker, and Mr. Coates, who, upon the sight of so much warlike preparation, began somewhat to repent having rushed so precipitately into the lion's den.
"Luke Bradley!" exclaimed Palmer, stepping forward.
"Luke Bradley!" echoed Lady Rookwood, recoiling and staring into his face.
"Fear nothing, madam," cried Luke. "I am here to assist you—I will defend you with my life."
"You defend me!" exclaimed Lady Rookwood, doubtfully.
"Even I," cried Luke, "strange as it may sound."
"Holy powers protect me!" ejaculated Titus. "As I live, it is Sir Piers himself."
"Sir Piers!" echoed Coates, catching the infection of terror, as he perceived Palmer more distinctly. "What! is the dead come to life again? A ghost, a ghost!"
"By my soul," cried Titus, "it's the first ghost I ever heard of that committed a burglary in its own house, and on the night of the body's burial, too. But who the devil are these? maybe they're ghosts likewise."
"They are," said Palmer, in a hollow tone, mimicking the voice of Sir Piers, "attendant spirits. We are come for this woman; her time is out; so no more palavering, Titus. Lend a hand to take her to the churchyard, and be d—d to you."
"Upon my conscience, Mr. Coates," cried Titus, "it's either the devil, or Sir Piers. We'll be only in the way here. He's only just settling his old scores with his lady. I thought it would come to this long ago. We'd best beat a retreat."
Jack took advantage of this momentary confusion created by this incidental alarm at his disguise to direct Rust towards the door by which the newcomers had entered; and, this being accomplished, he burst into a loud laugh.
"What! not know me?" cried he—"not know your old friend with a new face, Luke? Nor you, Titus? Nor you, who can see through a millstone, lawyer Coates, don't you recognise—"
"Jack Palmer, as I'm a sinner!" cried Titus. "Why this beats Banaghan. Arrah! Jack, honey, what does this mean? Is it yourself I see in such company? You're not robbing in earnest?"
"Indeed but I am, friend Titus," exclaimed Jack; "and it is my own self you see. I just took the liberty of borrowing Sir Piers's old hunting-coat from the justice-room. You said my toggery wouldn't do for the funeral. I'm no other than plain Jack Palmer, after all."
"With half-a-dozen aliases at your back, I dare say," cried Coates. "I suspected you all along. All your praise of highwaymen was not lost upon me. No, no; I can see into a millstone, be it ever so thick."
"Well," replied Jack, "I'm sorry to see you here, friend Titus. Keep quiet, and you shall come to no harm. As to you, Luke Bradley, you have anticipated my intention by half an hour; I meant to set you free. For you, Mr. Coates, you may commit all future care of your affairs to your executors, administrators, and assigns. You will have no further need to trouble yourself with worldly concerns," added he, levelling a pistol at the attorney, who, however, shielded himself, in an agony of apprehension, behind Luke's person. "Stand aside, Luke."
"I stir not," replied Luke. "I thank you for your good intention, and will not injure you—that is, if you do not force me to do so. I am here to defend her ladyship."
"What's that you say?" returned Jack, in surprise—"defend her ladyship?"
"With my life," replied Luke. "Let me counsel you to depart."
"Are you mad? Defend her!—Lady Rookwood—your enemy—who would hang you? Tut, tut! Stand aside, I say, Luke Bradley, or look to yourself."
"You had better consider well ere you proceed," said Luke. "You know me of old. I have taken odds as great, and not come off the vanquished."
"The odds are even," cried Titus, "if Mr. Coates will but show fight. I'll stand by you to the last, my dear joy. You're the right son of your father, though on the wrong side. Och! Jack Palmer, my jewel, no wonder you resemble Dick Turpin."
"You hear this?" cried Luke.
"Hot-headed fool!" muttered Jack.
"Why don't you shoot him on the spot?" said Wilder.
"And mar my own chance," thought Jack. "No, that will never do; his life is not to be thrown away. Be quiet," said he, in a whisper to Wilder; "I've another card to play, which shall serve us better than all the plunder here. No harm must come to that youngster; his life is worth thousands to us." Then, turning to Luke, he continued, "I'm loth to hurt you; yet what can I do? You must have the worst of it if we come to a pitched battle. I therefore advise you, as a friend, to draw off your forces. We are three to three, it is true; but two of your party are unarmed."
"Unarmed!" interrupted Titus. "Devil burn me! this iron shillelah shall convince you to the contrary, Jack, or any of your friends."
"Make ready then, my lads," cried Palmer.
"Stop a minute," exclaimed Coates; "this gets serious; it will end in homicide—in murder. We shall all have our throats cut to a certainty; and though these rascals will as certainly be hanged for it, that will be poor satisfaction to the sufferers. Had we not better refer the matter to arbitration?"
"I'm fighting it out," said Titus, whisking the poker round his head, like a flail in action. "My blood's up. Come on, Jack Palmer, I'm for you."
"I should vote for retreating," chattered the attorney, "if that cursed fellow had not placed a ne exeat at the door."
"Give the word, captain," cried Rust, impatiently.
"Ay, ay," echoed Wilder.
"A skilful general always parleys," said Jack. "A word in your ear, Luke, ere that be done which cannot be undone."
"You mean me no treachery?" returned Luke.
Jack made no answer, but uncocking his pistols, deposited them within his pockets.
"Shoot him as he advances," whispered Coates; "he is in your power now."
"Scoundrel!" replied Luke, "do you think me as base as yourself?"
"Hush, hush! for God's sake don't expose me," said Coates.
Lady Rookwood had apparently listened to this singular conference with sullen composure, though in reality she was racked with anxiety as to its results; and, now apprehending that Palmer was about to make an immediate disclosure to Luke, she accosted him as he passed her.
"Unbind me!" cried she, "and what you wish shall be yours—money—jewels—"
"Ha! may I depend?"
"I pledge my word."
Palmer untied the cord, and Lady Rookwood, approaching a table whereon stood the escritoir, touched a spring and a secret drawer flew open.
"You do this of your own free will?" asked Luke. "Speak, if it be otherwise."
"I do," returned the lady, hastily.
Palmer's eyes glistened at the treasures exposed to his view.
"They are jewels of countless price. Take them, and rid me," she added, in a whisper, "of him."
"Luke Bradley?"
"Ay."
"Give them to me."
"They are yours, freely on those terms."
"You hear that, Luke," cried he, aloud; "you hear it, Titus; this is no robbery. Mr. Coates—'Know all men by these presents'—I call you to witness, Lady Rookwood gives me these pretty things."
"I do," returned she; adding, in a whisper, "on the terms which I proposed."
"Must it be done at once?"
"Without an instant's delay."
"Before your own eyes?"
"I fear not to look on. Each moment is precious. He is off his guard now. You do it, you know, in self-defence."
"And you?"
"For the same cause."
"Yet he came here to aid you?"
"What of that?"
"He would have risked his life for yours?"
"I cannot pay back the obligation. He must die!"
"The document?"
"Will be useless then."
"Will not that suffice; why aim at life?"
"You trifle with me. You fear to do it."
"Fear!"
"About it, then; you shall have more gold."
"I will about it," cried Jack, throwing the casket to Wilder, and seizing Lady Rookwood's hands. "I am no Italian bravo, madam—no assassin—no remorseless cut-throat. What are you—devil or woman—who ask me to do this? Luke Bradley, I say."
"Would you betray me?" cried Lady Rookwood.
"You have betrayed yourself, madam. Nay, nay, Luke, hands off. See, Lady Rookwood, how you would treat a friend. This strange fellow would blow out my brains for laying a finger upon your ladyship."
"I will suffer no injury to be done to her," said Luke; "release her."
