“If you think to frighten me by your violence,
you are mistaken,” returned Judith, boldly.
“Mr. Chowles has been here more than two hours—ask
him whether he has seen any one.”
“Certainly not,” replied Chowles.
“There is no Amabel—no Earl of Rochester
here. You must be dreaming, young man.”
“The piper’s daughter affirmed the contrary,”
replied Leonard. “She said she saw this
woman admit them.”
“She lies,” replied Judith, fiercely.
But suddenly altering her tone, she continued, “If
I had admitted them, you would find them here.”
Leonard looked round uneasily. He was but half
convinced, and yet he scarcely knew what to think.
“If you doubt what I say to you,” continued
Judith, “I will take you to every chamber in
the cathedral. You will then be satisfied that
I speak the truth. But I will not have this mob
with me. Your companions must remain here.”
“Ay, stop with me and make yourselves comfortable,”
cried Chowles. “You are not so much used
to these places as I am, I prefer a snug crypt, like
this, to the best room in a tavern—ha! ha!”
Attended by Judith, Leonard Holt searched every corner
of the subterranean church, except the vestry, the
door of which was locked, and the key removed; but
without success. They then ascended to the upper
structure, and visited the choir, the transepts, and
the nave, but with no better result.
“If you still think they are here,” said
Judith, “we will mount to the summit of the
tower?”
“I will never quit the cathedral without them,”
replied Leonard.
“Come on, then,” returned Judith.
So saying, she opened the door in the wall on the
left of the choir, and, ascending a winding stone
staircase to a considerable height, arrived at a small
cell contrived within the thickness of the wall, and
desired Leonard to search it. The apprentice unsuspectingly
obeyed. But he had scarcely set foot inside when
the door was locked behind him, and he was made aware
of the treachery practised upon him by a peal of mocking
laughter from his conductress.
OLD LONDON FROM OLD SAINT PAUL’S.
After repeated, but ineffectual efforts to burst open
the door, Leonard gave up the attempt in despair,
and endeavoured to make his situation known by loud
outcries. But his shouts, if heard, were unheeded,
and he was soon compelled from exhaustion to desist.
Judith having carried away the lantern, he was left
in total darkness; but on searching the cell, which
was about four feet wide and six deep, he discovered
a narrow grated loophole. By dint of great exertion,
and with the help of his sword, which snapped in twain
as he used it, he managed to force off one of the
rusty bars, and to squeeze himself through the aperture.
All his labour, however, was thrown away. The
loophole opened on the south side of the tower, near
one of the large buttresses, which projected several
yards beyond it on the left, and was more than twenty
feet above the roof; so that it would be certain destruction
to drop from so great a height.
