University of Virginia Library

9. CHAPTER IX.
The Assassin.

The person whom the young nobleman
discovered was Ruyter, the convict. Edward
watched him closely, for he well knew the
character of the neighborhood in which the
beautiful cigar-girl lived, and he had spoken
to her about the danger of dwelling in such a
quarter of the city, delieately offering to her
at the same time such means as would enable
her to choose a better abode. This offer, however,
the young girl gratefully declined, acting
in this instance as in all other cases with
that charming propriety which characterized
her.

`If the house were not so wretched I should
suspect this fellow of burglary. But he must
have some other motive than treasure. Nay!
what treasure is more valuable than the lovely
cigar-vender who dwells there! She must
be the object and I am providentially here!'

While he was making these mental observations,
Ruyter had slipped the pannel as we
have seen, and to the surprise of Edward darted
through it and disappeared. He immediately
approached the door and softly sliding
the pannel back again (for the convict had replaced
it) he endeavored to pass through; but
being stouter about the shoulders than Ruyter
he was unable to get in as he had done. He,
however, by passing his arm through the aperture
succeeded in reaching up to the key on
the inside and unlocking the door.

As it opened he entered and listened. A
door closed softly above him. He groped his
way up the stairs and entered the room into
which Ruyter had already preceeded him.—
As he went in the convict had sprung a dark
lantern and as Edward entered he saw him
advancing towards a bed the lantern in one
hand and a gleaming blade in the other. Intent
on his murderous purpose Ruyter was
not conscious that his steps were followed, for
he believed that the door below was firmly secured.
Edward saw that the man's purpose
was murder, and with noiseless advance drew
near and stood over him ready to arrest his
hand. The curtain of the bed was partly
drawn aside and Ruyter saw lying asleep in
it the victim of his vengeance and also, to his
surprise, the beautiful face of a young girl.—

This discovery seemed to startle him and lowering
his knife he gazed upon her with wonder.
He feared also to do the murder he had
contemplated; and stood deliberating. The
young nobleman also saw the lovely sleeper
by the light of the convict's lantern and he
let his eye dwell upon the sweet features with
deep admiration. All at once Ruyter placed
his knife and lantern upon the floor, and taking
a cravat from his neck, muttered.

`This shall do it! The thing can be done
quietly by passing this round her throat, and
the girl not be waked!'

He twisted the handkerchief hard into a
rope, and was bending over the unconscious
sleeper, when Edward with a quick movement
over the head of the assassin, seized both
ends of this twisted cravat, wrested it from
his grasp and with the rapidity of lightning
took a double turn with it round his neck;
then drawing the ends together with a strong
hand, he threw the astonished and alarmed
convict backwards upon the floor, and placed
his foot upon his breast.

`Lie there villain!' he cried sternly, `and
offer to move a muscle and with your own
knife I will strike you to the heart!'

Alarmed by the fall Madame de Ruyter and
Maria both awoke in terror. Their consternation
on seeing a man standing in the middle
of the chamber with his foot upon the
body of another nearly paralyzed them.—
Neither could give utterance to the cry that
rose to their lips. A second glance told Maria
that one of them was the handsome stranger;
and deep blushes instantly chased away
the paleness of fear, while instinctively she
drew the curtain towards her to hide herself;
yet filled with wonder and fear!

`Do not be alarmed,' said the young man
in tones that at once inspired confidence in the
breast of Madame de Ruyter, for Maria's
fears were already vanishing at the sight of
one whom she was at the moment she awaked
pleasantly dreaming, `this man I saw breaking
into your house and following him into
this room prevented him from doing murder.
But for my providential interference in arresting
his hand you madam would have been the
victim.'

Both of the ladies shrieked, and Madame
de Ruyter trembled with horror, as she recognized
the dark features of her late husband!

`It is well for you, Madam, growled the as
sassin, that this chap happened to be at hand;
for I had sworn to take your life. That young
girl, who, I suppose is one of your brats, I
would then have taken into my possession.
Come, friend your foot is rather heavy on my
breast bone, and I dont like this cravat being
quite so tight!'

`Get to your feet, fellow, but I shall retain
my grasp upon this handkerchief. Now come
with me. When I am gone ladies, you can
secure the doors, and doubtless will meet no
further interruption to-night. I did not speak
to you, fair Maria without cause, for dwelling
in such a neighborhood!'

`To-morrow we leave it, sir, for a better
house,' answered Madame de Ruyter.

`You should do so. Good night, Madame,
and rest secure, for I will place a watchman in
charge of the premises for the remainder of
the night. Good night, my friend!' he added
looking towards the blushing girl. `Now fellow,
come with me! The least attempt on
your part to escape, will make your knife
point, and heart's blood acquainted!'

The young nobleman then led him out of
the chamber by a grasp upon the cravat, and
holding Ruyter's own knife in his other hand
above his breast. The convict suffered himself
to be led in this way in dogged silence to
the street, where Edward gave him into the
hands of two watchmen, who, hearing the
noise had hastened to the scene, and telling
them the nature of his offence, told them to
guard him with unwonted vigilence. Madame
de Ruyter from her window saw this
transfer to the custody of the watchmen, and
felt relieved.

`He is now in security, Maria, and I need
no longer tremble! I feared that he would
seek my life! How providential my escape.
Who could this brave young gentleman be?
He called you by name! You must know him,
dear!'

`He is the one who gave me the forget-me-not,
my dear mother,' answered the loving
girl with grateful joy. `I tell you that now
because I feel, after what he has done, you
will not censure me for loving him!'

`No never, my sweet child! But do you
love him?'

`With all my heart, and now more than
ever!' she answered with fervent emotion.

`And this is why you cannot love my poor
boy, who idolizes you! Well, dear child, I

canot help it now, only I pity Herman! Who
is this young man?'

`Indeed, dear mother, I have never asked
his name. I only know that he calls himself
Edward!'

`Well, dear, I hope good will come of it.—
He has certainly shewn himself a brave man,
and looks like a perfect gentleman. I hope
good will come of it! But then was it not
strange he should have been about here at this
time of the night!'

`I do not know, mother,' answered Maria,'
but feeling she could very truly guess.

There was some further conversation,
during which Madame de Ruyter convinced
herself that Herman had no place in the heart
of her lovely protege, and that he was rather
feared than loved. She sighed for him, knowing
well the violence of his character, and
how fearfully the knowledge of this fact
would affect him.