THE STORE-ROOMS.
The reader has already seen and heard enough to be fully aware that
Thomas Rainford was a man of undaunted courage: nor did he now tremble
when he found himself immured, as it were, in that subterranean, along
with a character so full of cunning and malignity as Old Death.
Although completely ignorant of the dark and gloomy locality to which he
had been brought, and well aware that his companion was quite capable of
the foulest treachery, the highwayman followed the old fence with so
firm a step, and whistled away in a manner indicative of such utter
recklessness of danger, that his guide was himself astonished at so much
daring.
But Rainford was keenly observant of all the movements of his companion;
and, resolutely as he walked, he was nevertheless careful in following
as precisely as possible in the steps of Old Death, so that he might not
be entrapped by any pitfall in that gloomy place.
On his part, Old Death proceeded at a somewhat rapid pace, shading the
light with his hand so as to protect it from the strong current of air
which rushed through the passage.
This passage, or long subterranean vault, was about ten feet wide and
six high. It was walled and arched with rough stone, and paved with huge
flags. The masonry at the sides and overhead was green with the damp;
and, even by the fitful light of the candle, Rainford could perceive
that this strange place must have been in existence for many—many years.
Here and there he observed little niches in the wall; and in one there
was the remnant of an image of the Saviour on the cross. It instantly
flashed to the mind of the highwayman that this sinister-looking
subterranean had once been connected with some monastic establishment;
and his imagination suggested that he was probably treading on the very
place where the victims of ancient Popish tyranny had been confined and
left to perish through famine.
Old Death and Tom Rain had proceeded about sixty yards, as well as the
latter could guess, along the vaulted passage, when the former suddenly
stopped, and the highwayman perceived that their farther progress was
barred by a huge door, studded with iron knobs.
"You are now about to enter my sanctuary—as I may call it," said Old
Death, turning abruptly round on Rainford; "and again I ask you what
guarantee I have that you will not betray me?"
"The same security which I have that you will not prove treacherous to
me," answered Tom.
Old Death hesitated for a few moments, as if he were about to make
another observation: but, yielding to a second thought, which most
probably showed him the inutility of farther remonstrance, he proceeded
to unbar the massive door.
It opened inwards, and led to a spiral flight of stone steps, up which
the two men mounted, Rainford having previously secured the door, which
had huge bolts on each side.
Having ascended some forty steps, Old Death, who went first, placed the
candle in a niche, and pushed up a trap-door, which immediately admitted
a strong current of air: but the precaution observed in respect to the
light, prevented it from being extinguished.
"I ought to have brought a lantern with me, by rights," murmured Old
Death. "But come along."
"You go on first," said Rainford; "and I'll take care of the candle."
"No—give it to me," replied Bones hastily; and he extended his hand to
grasp it.
But Rainford hit him a hard blow on the wrist with the butt-end of his
pistol, and then seized the candle.
"What did you do that for?" demanded Old Death savagely.
"Because I suspect you of treachery," returned the highwayman, in a
severe tone. "But, remember—I am well armed—and, at the least appearance
of evil intent on your part, I fire!"
"You are wrong, Tom—my dear fellow," said Old Death, coaxingly, as he
still lingered at the top of the steps.
"Well—I may be; and I shall be glad to find that I am," exclaimed Tom:
"and now lead on."
Old Death ascended the few remaining steps; and Rainford followed with
his pistol in one hand and the candle in the other.
They were now in a small room furnished as a bed-chamber; and when Old
Death had let down the trap-door again, he unrolled and spread a small
carpet over it.
"This is your residence?" said Rainford inquiringly.
The old man nodded a grim assent.
"And your store-rooms are in this house?—for I can perfectly well
understand that _we have come into another house_—and, by the direction
of the subterranean, I should say it must be in Red Lion Street."
"You know London well," said Old Death.
"I do," replied Rainford.
"Although you lived so long in the country," added Bones.
"Right again, old fellow!" exclaimed Tom, "And now for a farther insight
into the mysteries of your abode."
With these words the highwayman approached a door on one side of the
room; but Old Death, hastily advancing towards another door, said, "This
way, Tom—this way: there is nothing in that quarter—worth seeing."
But the ancient fence seemed agitated; and this was not lost upon his
companion.
"Well, as you choose," observed the latter, resuming his careless,
off-hand manner. "Lead on."
Bones had already opened the door; and he now conducted the highwayman
into a spacious apartment, surrounded by shelves, whereon were ranged an
assortment of articles of the most miscellaneous description.
Clothes and china-ware—candlesticks, plated and silver, all carefully
wrapped up in paper—piles of silk pocket-handkerchiefs, and heaps of
linen garments—carpet-bags and portmanteaus—every species of
haberdashery—silk dresses and cotton gowns—velvet pelisses and shawls of
all gradations of value—muffs, tippets, and boas—ladies' shoes and
gentlemen's boots—looking-glasses and candelabra—lamps and
pictures—tea-urns and costly vases—meerschaum-pipes and
dressing-cases—immense quantities of cutlery—piles of printing
paper—saddles and bridles,—in short, an infinite variety of articles, to
detail which would occupy whole pages.
"Your magazine is crowded, old fellow," said Rainford, who, even while
surveying the curious place in which he found himself, did not the less
keep a strict watch upon his companion.
"Are you satisfied now?" demanded Old Death.
"Not quite," answered Rainford. "You must have another room where you
keep your jewellery and all those kinds of things?"
"What kind of things?" asked Bones sharply.
"Oh! things that require to be packed away with caution, to be sure,"
replied Tom Rain.
For an instant the old man cast upon him a glance of searching inquiry,
as if to penetrate into the most secret profundities of his soul; but
the highwayman affected to be very intent in his contemplation of a
picture, and the countenance of the fence grew more composed.
"Well," said Rainford, after a few moments' pause, "there's no use in
delaying the matter. I _must_ and _will_ make myself acquainted with
every nook of this place."
Old Death moved towards a door facing the one by which they entered the
apartment; and Rainford was conducted into a smaller room, but fitted up
with shelves like the first.
On those shelves were several boxes, of various dimensions, and numerous
jewel-cases wrapped up in paper.
"Watches and plate, I suppose?" said Rainford, pointing to the boxes.
"Something in that way, Tom," replied Old Death. "Would you like to see
any of them?"
"No, thank'ee," was the answer. "I am not particularly curious in that
respect."
Then, as he appeared to glance casually round the room, his eyes dwelt
for an instant upon an iron safe let into the wall.
"Well—have you seen enough?" asked Old Death. "It's getting very late."
"It must be early, you mean," replied the highwayman, with a smile. "But
still there is time for the business that I have in hand," he added, his
manner suddenly changing to seriousness.
Old Death glanced towards him uneasily. Indeed, for some time the fence
had been suspecting that Rainford had an ulterior object in view,
independent of the mere wish to become acquainted with his abode; and
vague alarms now filled his mind. What could the highwayman mean? Was he
other than he seemed? Did he intend to betray him?
All these ideas rushed rapidly through the imagination of the horrible
old man; and, though _he_ had formed a plan whereby to avenge himself on
_the only individual who had ever yet dared to coerce him_, he trembled
lest he should be unable to put it into execution. He knew that Rainford
was a man of dauntless bravery, and believed him to be a desperate one;
and now he found himself completely in this formidable person's power.
Not that Old Death lacked courage himself: and he certainly was not
deficient in treachery. But he wanted the strength—the physical strength
to maintain a deadly struggle with the highwayman, if it should come to
_that_!
Thus was it that for the first time, perhaps, the hardened miscreant
trembled for his life.
To throw open the window and call for assistance, in case of danger, was
to invite the entrance of persons who would discover all the mysteries
of his abode; and death were an alternative scarcely more frightful!
"Yes—there is time enough for the business that I have on hand!"
repeated Rainford, his countenance assuming so stern—so determined an
expression, that Old Death trembled with a colder shudder than before.
"What do you mean?—what is that—that——" stammered Old Death.
"Sit down—there—on that seat!" thundered the highwayman, pointing
imperiously to a chair. "Sit down, I say—or, by heaven! this pistol——"
"Well—I will—I will, Tom," said Bones, perceiving the deadly weapon
levelled point-blank at his heart: and he sank into the chair
accordingly. "But do tell me—if I have offended you—if——"
"Hold your tongue!" ejaculated Rainford, in so authoritative a manner
that the ancient villain's powers of utterance were suddenly paralysed.
"And now mark me," continued the highwayman: "I have a certain task to
perform, which nothing save a superior physical strength on your part
can prevent. But, in the first place it is necessary that I should bind
you—that I should render you incapable of molesting me."
Old Death was unable to reply: but he stared with vacant terror on the
individual whose proceedings were alike so mysterious and so alarming.
Rainford took a coil of rope from a bale of goods that stood upon the
table, and with extraordinary rapidity proceeded to fasten Old Death's
arms and legs to the chair, uttering terrible menaces the whole time
that this operation lasted; while the appalling state of the aged
fence's mind was indicated only by low moans and convulsive movements of
uneasiness.
Having made fast the end of the rope to the iron bars of the fire-place,
in such a manner that Old Death could not shift the chair beyond the
length of the tether thus formed, Rainford leant himself against the
table and proceeded to address his prisoner.