The Blue Dwarf ... Illustrated

Front matter

No. 2 GIVEN AWAY with No. 1.] [Price ONE PENNY. LONDON: CAXTON HOUSE, BOLT COURT, FLEET STREET. And to be had of all Agents everywhere. THE BLUE DWARF; A TALE OF LOVE, MYSTERY, AND CRIME. By LADY ESTHER HOPE. litatraiefcr. LONDON : THOMAS TAYLOR, OAXTON HOUSE, 3a, BOLT COUET, FLEET STREET, E.C. THE BLUE DWARF A TALE OF LOVE, MYSTERY, AND CRIME. BY LADY ESTHER HOPE WITH A LOW CHUCIIS BE CLtJTCHH) THB BOTTLB AND MPLACTD IT BT ANOTHER. It has been going on for some time. The house ia vast, and full of intricate and winding pas sages, like many of the antique mansions of the wealthy, more frequent half a century ago than now. It had been built at various periods, some of peace and plenty, others of rapine and plunder. Book I.— THE FOSTEE BBOTHEES,

Chapter I. Shadows On The

WA^L. Shadows on the wall ! pale, flitting shadows, that come one cannot say whence, and go it is vain to Bay where. No. 1. DWABF. " AU right, Sir Edgar," replied the other, in the same tone. . . No answer was given, but the first speaker held out His hand, and something fell out upon the lawn. It was a ladder of ropes. Tho person below at once began his ascent, using great caution ; and in a minute raore the window was shut, and all still without. , , , Ample provision had been made for both contingencies. There were splendid halls, banqueting rooms, numerous offices, kitchens where an ox might have been roasted whele, and dark and gloomy passages, trap doors, secret rooms, where the persecuted and the oppressed, as well as the conspirator and the evil-doer, niight conceal themselves from tyranny as well as from justice.

But we are now in the broad light of human freedom and modern civilisation. The two persons who met in this mysterious and clandes tine way now stood face to face in a large and handsome bedroom, illumined with one candle only. They were lads about the Bame age, and not unlike, both in form and figure. They were abouf. fifteen years of ago, the one called Pir Edgar"being a little slighter than the other, while his hair i ker, and his eyes of a brown tint. It was a fine, open, manly face, beaming with animation and lifo— though touched with a shade of gloom — perhaps tbo produce of recent sickness. The lad addressed as Dick, though so like him as to cause much whispeiftig as to his parentage, had a degree of cunning in bis countenance which caused its expression to be far from winning, or even commonly pleasant.

They were foster brothers, and until within twelvemonths had be. n brought up together, enjoying the same masters, and receiving one as much care in education as the other. "Well, Disk,' saidSir Edgar, "how much i" "Twelve pounds," replied the lad Richard. "That will do," continued the other. " And now, the sooner we start the better." " But are you sure," continued the other, " that you have everything all right ? I have rnade inquiries, and for you to be received in the royal navy you must have documents to prove your identity." "I have them all," said Sir Edgar sadly, "my father's certificate of m&ia'ge, that of my birth ; while as to my personal identity there can be no doubt." " All right !" said Dick heartily, " that's the identical thing'. What say you f shall we start ? " " Tho sooner the better, never to re-enter this house until I come as master, to avenge my wrongs," said the other solemnly.

As many others havo done before him, and will again, Sir Edgar Blakesley was flying from his home, to seek his fortunes at sea, because his mother had chosen to give him a cruel, rapacious, and harsh stepfather. Affecting no disguise, they descended by the rope ladder, and left it a witness of their flight. Out into tbe dark night they went, creeping like malefactors. . The lawn was soon gained, and the two ladshurriedacross it, never so much -as looking back until the plantation was reached. They then struck across a beaten path, por halted until a good three miles of ground intervened between them and the mansion from which they were hurrying. They were on a high road, at no groat distance from which stood a deserted mill house. It was in a little valley mded by brush and trees. It was a crumbling ruin, moss-grown, and almost roofless.

To this, by previous agreement, tho lads took their way, as it was settled they were • to take the coach which passed on that road a little after daybreak. Dick appeared to know tho place well enough, as did in deed Sir Edgar, tho valley since the abandonment of the mill haiing become a complete rabbit warren. Thej were tben soon within its gloomy precincts, when tho lad Dick produced a leaden box and a lanthorn, which ho had conveyed thither for tho purpose, andlooked around, not without a str: ton rjf awe. Th'CJ ii tl. to at nis'ht, and it was rumoured (hit th. •'■< sertion bad been that a bar barous murder had been committed theie many years before. We have not reached the days of Victoria, when liberty, save where shackled bya remnant' of feudalism, has grown up to be an example to the wide universe ; but still we are speaking of a period when, in comparison of other nations and other epochs, our country was free from the necessity of moated castles, dangerous trap deors, ancl .secret passages.

But never does the evil which is in tlie human heart die out. Long after such appliances as belong to, another age are rejected hy public opinion, will they be made instruments of private vengeance, profligacy, and lust of wealth and power. "Who is this comes down those abrupt steps, shading the. light from his lanthorn with his hand, his face pale and livid, his ears drinking in every sound, his eyes devouring the space before him, and his figure casting dark shadows on the wall ? It is so every night now, in the old hall— and why P Treading with extreme caution, he stands upon a carpeted passage, along which he glides more like a ghost than a human being, until he reaches a doorway. Here he sets down his lanthorn and listens at the key. hole. Not a sound. The handle is turned, and in stalks'the midnight prowler, still with strangely light step— his' feet are covered with list shoes — and approaches the bed.

It is a splendidly furnished apartment, and the bed is a large antique four-poster. Its occupant is a handsome youth of about fifteen or sixteen. The man, be his intentions what they may, looks sternly on for a few minutes, and perceiving that the oth. soundly, took up a bottle from otfa small table liesidc his bed, and, hastily concealing it, replaced it by another. He then left thc room with equal caution, and was seen no more in that apartment for the night. Shadows on the wall again ! But, heavens, what is it ? From beneath the bed crawls forth a being, which on its hands and knees so closely resembles an animal as to be taken for one at a superficial glance. Thc light in the room from a shaded lamp is se dim tbat its real character can scarcely be detected . With a low chuckle it pushed forth its hand, as it app. -ami to be, clutched the bottle which had been left, by tl intruder, replaced it by another, and then standing upright, walked across the room into the deep shadow at its other extremity.

A faint clink was heard, and thon again all was still, and the sleeper was alone. ****** Loud howls the storm on river and plain ; dark race the clouds over the gloomy heavens, while in the far distance rolls the thunder-blast, as a short active figure ds seen to push his way through a dense thicket that skirted the lawn in front of the lordly mansion of thc Blakosley's, of Blakes ley Hall. Tho lawn was quickly crossed., and thc figure halted at an angle of the hon Then it stooped, and picked up :i handful of gravel, which it cast upward again*' a window on the The window was opened and a brad pro.ru 11 Is that you, Dick ':" said a hushed voice from bolow. It was a large room, with a vast fireplace ; the roof had fallen in in several places, while the wind howded and whistled through the frequent crannies and fissures of tlie wall, while alow moaning, that sounded like mortal breathing, came distinctly to thc ears.

"The place seems nauntc.l,'' said Sir Edgar, in alow, hushed tone. " Nonsense," replied Dick-, not without a shudder, while he glanced round with a strange ferred look. "Oh, I'm not going to be frightened, Dick," continued tho runaway. " A pretty sailor I'd make if I was afraid ot' ghosts. But a,s Peter would say, thc place is no cannie, and I shan't feel comfortable until I'm well out of it." Is there then such a thing as second si. lit '; and docs the appalled soul on the threshold pf the grave see, beyond the veil of futurity, into shadow land. D'ckmade no reply, but taking out a case , battle, poured out above a wine.jlafssul into a tin cig), and handed it to Sir Edgar. " Drink,'' be said, " that will give you courage." Sir Edgar took the proffered glass, and dr ine.d it ost'. It was brandy, and appeared to revive him.

But still he did not seem talkative. He was thinking of the bold and daring step which had po suddenly deprived him of a home and sent him forth upon the world, an outcast and a wanderer. Dick looked keenly at him, until the youth sank slowly back in a heavy and death-like slumber. " At last ! " said the other, with a deep sigh ; and the entire expression of his face changed as if by magic. A fierce, hungry, ferocious glance took tho place of the half-respectful look which he had hitherto assumed. "At last! I've waited long enough," he said, wiping the cold perspiration off his brow. " Does tbe fool think I am always going to lackey him f My turn now, Sir Edgar Blakesley, baronet." And with calm deliberation he searched the recumbent body, and took away the pocket-book, the money which he had sold the other's watch for, a cheque which had been hin father's last gift, and which not a stml knew of, and then slowly, and with horrid deliberation, took out a clasped knife, opened it, and plunged it up to.the haft in the body of his unfortunate foster brother — his half brother even, some said.

Then with a howl like that of a famished wolf, out went this second Cain into the open air, without once looking behind. crowded round every tavern, girls in flaunting dresses displayed the bronzed faces at every corner, while the dews and other dealers plied tbeir profitable trade. Bound tho celebrated George Inn there were congregated a group of officers of all ranks, for several commanders of , vessels were seated within, finishin.; up all their arrange ments prepiratory to immediate departure. It wa3 early in tire day, and the London coach was ex pected. Several of those juvenile sucking Nelsons, as they aw" often popularly called, were expected down to join their ships. Thc London coach was indeed coining down loaded with its valuable freight, among whom might Tie distinguished numerous youths leaving home for the first time, and look ing as if they scarcely knew whether to faugh or cry, as they thought of tho homo they were leaving, or leokod forward to a glo'ious and brilliant career.

Among the party was one who joined not in the general c.uvf rs.itioi.. He, too, was a youth, but his smock frock, fiery red hair, and strange uncouth appearance, appeared to stamp him as one who was likely, if lie went to sea at all, to find him-adf located among the more humble herd in the forecastle. He scarcely made any reopens : to tho banter of some of the youngsters, except through his eyes, which glared fearfully around when any jest hit him unusually hard. The coach stopped a few miles out of Portsmouth, and the countryman alighted, paid his fare, and entering an inn sat down in the tap -room. He looked with a careless glance around, and found that it was tenanted by one man only, a sailor of a rather sinister aspect, heightened by the fact of his having only one eye. " Wbat cheer, my hearty i" said the British tar after a rather long examination ; " where do you hail from ?"

"Don't hail from nowhero," replied' the other, with a grin, " and 1 wants some bread and cheese." " Pull away at the bell," continued the other, " and tho bottle washer will be here in a jiffy." Thc lad did as he was directed, and a girl with ruddy face and bare arms entered. . The youth ordered bread and cheese and beer, and asked the stranger what he would take. "You are a Trojan," he cried, with sudden animation; " Susan, my love, a stiff nor-westei. Brandy, and none of your half -water grog." The girl appeared to linger, as if in doubt.' " Do you want the money ?" said the lad, with an angry contraction of the eyebrows. " Well, sir, — the brandy's a shilling, and " " Bring me change for a guinea," he interrupted, hand ing her the coin. The girl hurried from the room, and the one eye of tha sailor glistened.

He remained silent for some time, apparently revolvingin his mind some plan of operations. Thc drink was brought in, and was duly honoured. The sailor then waited until the lad had eaten his bread and cheese, when he once more opened the conversation. "It's my turn now, mate," ho said; "what say you? let's play for two stiff 'uns at cards." " I ain't much of a player," replied the lad. "It's-all luck," said the other, producing a greasy pack of cards'. They were shuffled, .cut, dealt, and then for some little time there was nothing heard but the mystic slang of the recondite game of all fours. The sailor lost, cursed his ill luck, and played again. They now begun to play for money. The lad's eyes glistened", his face was flushed, his fingers moved in a nervous and tremulous way, which at once pro claimed the incipient gambler.

He dared not. But a yell so fearful, it seemed to glue him to the ground, made him halt and fancy his wrotched victim was up and after him. But no. All is still. No sound is heard but the footsteps of the murderer as he courses down the valley, eager toplace hundreds of miles if possible between himself and the scene of this most un paralleled crime. It was daylight when he halted on the outskirts of a small town, and lay down for rest and shelter in an outhouse. But he could not sleep. There by his couch stood the spectral form which, Until death benumbs his faculties, shall haunt him day and night, and for ever deprive him of the power of peaceful sleep.

Chapter II

; BOB ORIGGS. The streets of Portsmouth presented all that busy appear- ' ance nrhich only appertains to sea-ports in time of war. Tho harbour was full of vessels, while the streets pre sented a singularly animated and liyely spectacle. Officers in uniform hurried hither and thither, sailors " Not a shot in the locker — cleaned out — done brown, and by a raw-looking youngster. Bob Griggs done by a powder-monkey. But I never forgets, and if I dont ring the thiefs neck I'm a Dutchman." The sailor saw this at a glance, and raised the stakes to five shillings. The countryman — or rather, youth — lost pound after pound ; but he m ide no complaint. Cold sweat stood upon his brow ; his lips were livid. " More brandy ! " he suddenly cried out, when the other had won eleven guineas and his own purse showed but one more.

The lad was close behind him. The other walked from Bide to side with an unsteady motion which proved his incapacity for running. The lad therefore made a bold rush past, and darted away with extraordinary speed. The sailor stood still, petrified with astonishment ; he then made a dash forward, and fell sprawling on the ground. Half-an-hour later the lad entered Portsmouth, and without asking any questions made his way to the quarter inhabited by the Jews. A rather better looking clothes shop attracting his attention he entered boldly. " Vat cansh I do for you P ' ' said a little fat flabby man, bowing, with his hands in his pockets. " I want a midshipman's undress suit, quite new," replied the lad, with a firmness of manner which was not lost on the Hebrew, who produced from a large chest, with pro fessional rapidity, the costume required.

" The price ?" said the lad after critical examination. " ShTp me, Moses, cost me four guineas," began the Jew. " With pleasure," said the sailor, whose delight was with difficulty kept within ordinary bounds. " I'll fetch it," replied the lad ; " I don't want the girl to see me playing." In an incredibly short space of time he was again in the room, with two steaming hot glasses of brandy, one of which he eagerly handed to his opponent, and then resumed. play. This time the stake was a guinea. To all appearance it was his last. The lad played with extreme caution this time, for it was a desperate emergency. The sailor appeared more careless of the result, for bad he not won everything hitherto P The game soon came to an end. The youthful country man lost. '•I'll play no more," he said, throwing down the cards and the guinea.

"Just as you like," replied the tar, winking with his one eye ; " here's better luck next time." " Better luck," said the other, gravely, as he pledged him in return. The lad turned away to leave the shop, his lip curled in scorn. " Vait a bit, ve can pargin," said the Hebrew hurriedly. " No," said the other resolutely, " ask me fair prices and you shall have them. The age of the moon is one," The Jew started aB if struck by a blow, and then clutched the other's hand eagerly. From that moment there was no haggling. The mysterious words had produced a magical effect. A suit of clothes, shirts, and other linen, a proper chest and all, were provided with scrupulous regard to fair dealing. Is there then, after all, honour among thieves P "Vy you not shay dat before?" muttered the Jew. " Holy Moses !

I might have shaved a brother ; but mine young master, how you know de sign " " Profit is loss, aniloss is profit,' rcpliod the lad, gravely. " I peg one ten thousand pardons," said the other with genuine awe, his eyes starting from his head. He asked no further questions, but waited upon the lad with perfect obsequiousness. When he had completed his toilette, the aspirant to naval honours hailed a fly, and directing it to take the young gentleman to the Blue Posts, the Jew bowed him out with the reverence due to a prince. "Mine Got!" said the Jew, as soon as he had les t the premises, '■ so young and so vicked. De vorld is coming to an ent." The sailor drained off his glass, and wiped the perspira tion from his face with his silk bandana. The lad was seized with a violent fit of coughing, and spilt his grog.

" Take it easy, my little hearty. You've lost like abrick. Luck's all ; and next time you -see if you don't make a fortin' . Always pay for laming, you know. How mighty sleepy I am," he said, yawning. " Give us your flipper, I'll go to bed." Here he stopped suddenly, his under-jaw fell, and he lay baok almost as if suddenly stricken with death. Quick as lightning the lad sprang forward, and clutched a canvas bag which he had seen the other put in his pocket, and secreted it about his own person, the man staring at bim with open eyes all the time, but whether conscious of what was going on could not be said. No sooner had the other performed this feat, than he rose, took his bundle, and went forth, quite unobserved by any. He hurried along the road for some little time, until he noticed a barn in the distance.

To this he hurried, determined there to remain until nightfall. He found it open and vacant, and seating himself, counted his money. There were fourteen guineas and about as many shillings iu the canvas bag. He had made a clear profit by the day's transaction. Meanwhile, the midshipman had driven up to the hotel, and sending in his box, had entered the public room, where he found several juveniles congregated, among whom he recognised one or two of his companions of the Btage coach. But who could recognise in the handsome young officer the red-haired country youth of a few hours before. " Good evening, gentlemen," he said, in extremely courteous tones. " I hope I am not intruding P" ■"The more tho merrier," said one of the juveniles, who was making a wretched attempt to smoke a bad cigar, and to drink a glass of grog.

" What's your ship f" growled a mate, arough customer, with a very red face. " Whichever ship Sir Edmund Crossley thinks proper to appoint me to,' ' said the other. "Do you know him?" asked several, eagerly. "Have you seen him ?" "Don't know him. Not a bit. But thie is dry talk. Here— how many are we P eight. Waiter, half a dozen of With a satisfied smile he lay down to sleep, and in a few minutes he was in the land of dreams. When he awoke he was in total darkness. Rising from the ground he felt for his bundle, and sallied forth into the open air. He thoroughly recollected the proper direction to follow, and hastened on his way. He had much to do that night, and Portsmouth was still several miles distant. He had been careful to make himself acquainted with the road, and found no difficulty in following it.

For about half-an-hour he did not meet a human being, but at the expiration of that time he heard footsteps in advance, with low murmurings or mutterings. As he proceeded he soon found that the sound emanated from a drunken sailor, who was tottering on towards Portsmouth, pouring forth as he did so a perfect torrent of execrations. port, and let it be good." The hearty response which followed this announcement left the youth in no doubt as to his present popularity ; and when the evening was over, and all retired to rest, more or less elevated, he was voted by common acclamation a credit to his new profession. Early next morning he rose, and dressed himself with peculiar care, put a pocket book in his breast, and sallied forth towards the George Inn. " I want to see Sir Edmund Crossley," he said, addressing a waiter in a very Bost and honied tone.

His face was pale, his lips compressed, his whole mien agitated. But still he acted with perfect coolness and pre cision. The rector of a neighbouring village and the doctor weM her only visitors. About four months after her arrival at Fairy Knowe, as we shall call it, the visits of the latter became more fre quent ; and then it was publicly announced that an heir was expected to the name and possessions of the house of Winterton. Great were the rejoicings of all the retainers of the family, who begged the widow to return to Dudley House, the chief residence of the Wintertons, that the heir might be born on the estate. The widow; however, feared the emotion of returning suddenly to the scene of her former happiness, and resolved to remain in the lonely house on the borders of the wild plantation until the interesting event was over.

The two cousins, Frederick Winterton and John Winter ton, who had already in imagination divided the estate among them, were furious at the announcement, and wrote to protest against any sucb impoBture being practised. " I almost; pitied them," said the indignant widow to her medical adviser ; " but this insolence is beyond what even my meekness can bear. Let them be strictly forbidden the house." " Can't see him— busy," replied the waiter. " Take up that," said the youth with severity, handing a card. The man bowed, and glancing at the piece of pasteboard, hurried away to present it. He returned in a few minutes, during which a number of officers looked with a smile upon the self-possession and importance of the aspirant to naval honours. They hadtieard the conversation between the lad and the waiter.

Their astonishment was great then when the waiter hur ried down, and spoke to the lad in the most respectful manner. " But, my dear madam, on the contrary, let them come ; let all the world come,'' said the cautious surgeon. " No. The rectitude of my own heart, and my scorn of all deception be my defence. I will remain as secluded aa ever." " Sir Edgar Blakesley ia requested to walk up." The lad looked round with a flushed face, and went upstairs. " That thing a baronet ?" cried an old naval officer. " A pretty pass the service has come to, when youngsters are shown up, while we dangle here, at the will and pleasure of our captains." AU present acquiesced as a matter of course. Then, as now, grumbling was the privilege of naval officers. "You are wrong; the world is very wicked," said tha surgeon.

" The more reason for keeping it at a distance," continued the widow, sadly. Dr. Gruby went away dissatisfied. He knew human nature, and he knew that the lust of wealth will incite to the inost atrocious deeds, and tempt to extremities of calumny, beyond ordinary imagination. He knew of the cousins. Frederick was a captain in an infantry regiment, at present on sick leave. John was a man about town, who did not carry about with him the fairest of reputations. Mrs. Winterton so far yielded to the persuasions of her medical adviser as to increase the number of her servants. CHAPTER HI. THE POSTHUMOUS HEIR. We must change the scene for a moment, and ere we return to the old mill where lies the victim of a most cruel murder, or explain the result of the interview between the naval officer and the youth who announced himself as Sir Edgar Blakesley, introduce to the notice of our readers another character in our terrible drama.

She added oneman in the house, a porter at the small lodge in front of the house, and an additional kitchenmaid. The nurse the doctor agreed to provide himself. The man-servant who wa3 taken into the house was a little, thin, weazened-faced man, named Jones. On the confines of a wooded district in a remote part of England, whieh shall be nameless, from obvious reasons, there came to dwell, some yeaft before the commencement of our narrative, a lady. She took an old-fashioned house which had not been inhabited for some time, and furnished it with great taBte and judgment. He assisted the steward, waited at table, and did other offices incident to his situation. He came highly recommended from his last place — in London ; no great recommendation to those who formed the general household. He had a cat-like mode of moving about.

Everybody met him when least expected, and he had a strange Ikncy for examining the uninhabited rooms. He was, however, respectful to all, and seemed anxious to win everybody's good graces, especially Mrs. Hudson's, the housekeeper. In tbis he thoroughly succeeded. One evening, shortly before the interesting event was expected, Mrs. Hudson asked Mr. Jones to tea. Like all housekeepers' rooms, it was snug and cozy in the extreme. She was accompanied by several male and female ser vants. She wore widew's weeds, and it soon became known in the neighbourhood that her husband had been killed by a mysterious fall from his horse, after one year of married life. The Honourable Dudley Winterton had married for love ; and being extremely wealthy, had, in the exuberance of his love, endowed his wife, and any children she might have, with the whole of his worldly wealth.

Failing any heirs, the vast estates and personalities went to two cousins in equal shares. When the Honourable Dudley Winterton died — and his death was almost inexplicable — he waB childless, and all his wealth went to bis wife, who, distracted and broken-hearted, retired with her steward, lady's-maid, and other necessary servants, to pass the first year of her widowhood in retire ment, away from those scenes which had so painful an interest in connection with her beloved husband. A warm fire burnt on the hearth, the kettle hissed, and the toast was done to a turn, when Mr. Jones knocked at the door. On being told to enter, he glided in with a sidelong movement sufficiently explitive of his humility. "Sit down, Mr. Jones," she said; " I expect Mr. Dick son directly, but he's gone to D " " Just so," replied Mr. Jones, taking his Mat ; " how werry hodd."