CHAPTER II
THE ENCHANTED CHAIRS
More than ten minutes had elapsed since Reeks' departure, and Mr.Thorneycroft, who had hitherto had some difficulty in repressing hisanger, now began to give vent to it in muttered threats and complaints.His impatience was shared by the Tinker, who, stepping up to Ginger,said--
"Wot the devil can Mr. Reeks be about? I hope nuffin' has happened tohim."
"Don't mention a certain gent's name here," remarked Ginger; "or if youdo, treat it vith proper respect."
"Pshaw!" exclaimed the Tinker impatiently; "I don't like a man stayin'avay in this manner. It looks suspicious. I wotes ve goes and sees arterhim. Ve can leave the old gent to take a keviet nap by himself. Don'tdisturb yourself, sir. Ve'll only jist giv' a look about us, and thencome back."
"Stay where you are, rascal!" cried Thorneycroft angrily. "I won't beleft. Stay where you are, I command you!"
"Vell, ve've got a noo captain, I'm a-thinkin'," said the Tinker,winking at the others. "Ve've no vish to disobleege you, sir. I'll onlyjist peep out into the hall, and see if Mr. Reeks is anyvherethereabouts. Vy, zounds!" he added, as he tried the door, "it'slocked!"
"What's locked?" cried Thorneycroft in dismay.
"The door, to be sure," replied the Tinker. "Ve're prisoners."
"O Lord, you don't say so!" cried the iron-merchant in an agony offright. "What will become of us?"
A roar of laughter from the others converted his terror into fury.
"I see how it is," he cried. "You have entrapped me, ruffians. It's alla trick. You mean to murder me. But I'll sell my life dearly. The firstwho approaches shall have his brains blown out." And as he spoke, helevelled a pistol at the Tinker's head.
"Holloa! wot are you arter, sir?" cried that individual, sheltering hishead with his hands. "You're a-labourin' under a mistake--a completemistake. If it is a trap, ve're catched in it as vell as yourself."
"To be sure ve is," added the Sandman. "Sit down, and vait a bit. Idessay Mr. Reeks'll come back, and it von't do no good gettin' into apassion."
"Well, well, I must resign myself, I suppose," groaned Thorneycroft,sinking into a chair. "It's a terrible situation to be placed in--shutup in a haunted house."
"I've been in many much vurser sitivations," observed Ginger, "and Ialvays found the best vay to get out on 'em wos to take things quietly."
"Besides, there's no help for it," said the Tinker, seating himself.
"That remains to be seen," observed the Sandman, taking the chairopposite Thorneycroft. "If Reeks don't come back soon, I'll bust openthe door."
"Plenty o' time for that," said Ginger, sauntering towards the table onwhich the provisions were spread; "wot do you say to a mouthful o'wittles?"
"I wouldn't touch 'em for the world," replied the Sandman.
"Nor I," added the Tinker; "they may be pisoned."
"Pisoned--nonsense!" cried Ginger; "don't you see some von has beena-takin' his supper here? I'll jist finish it for him."
"Vith all my 'art," said the Tinker.
"Don't touch it on any account," cried Mr. Thorneycroft. "I agree withyour companions, it may be poisoned."
"Oh! I ain't afeerd," cried Ginger, helping himself to a dish beforehim. "As good a pigeon-pie as ever I tasted. Your health, Mr.Thorneycroft," he added, filling a goblet from one of the bottles. "Myservice to you, gents. Famous tipple, by Jove!" drawing a long breathafter the draught, and smacking his lips with amazing satisfaction."Never tasted sich a glass o' wine in all my born days," he continued,replenishing the goblet: "I wonder wot it's called?"
"Prussic acid," replied Mr. Thorneycroft gruffly.
"Proossic fiddlestick!" cried Ginger; "more likely Tokay. I shall finishthe bottle, and never be the vorse for it!"
"He's gettin' svipy," said the Tinker. "I vonder vether it's reallyTokay?"
"No such thing," cried Thorneycroft; "let him alone."
"I must taste it," said the Tinker, unable to resist the temptation."Here, give us a glass, Ginger!"
"Vith pleasure," replied Ginger, filling a goblet to the brim, andhanding it to him. "You'd better be perwailed upon, Sandy."
"Vell, I s'pose I must," replied the Sandman, taking the gobletproffered him.
"Here's the beaks' healths!" cried Ginger. "I gives that toast 'costhey're alvays so kind to us dog-fanciers."
"Dog-fanciers--say, rather, dog-stealers; for that's the name suchvagabonds deserve to be known by," said Mr. Thorneycroft with someasperity.
"Vell, ve von't quarrel about names," replied Ginger, laughing, "butI'll relate a circumstance to you as'll prove that wotever your opinionof our wocation may be, the beaks upholds it."
"There can be but one opinion as to your nefarious profession," said Mr.Thorneycroft, "and that is, that it's as bad as horse-stealing andsheep-stealing, and should be punished as those offences are punished."
"So I think, sir," said Ginger, winking at the others; "but to my story,and don't interrupt me, or I can't get through vith it properly. There'sa gent livin' not a hundred miles from Pall Mall, as the noospaperssays, as had a favourite Scotch terrier, not worth more nor half-a-crownto any one but hisself, but highly wallerable to him, 'cos it wos afavourite. Vell, the dog is lost. A pal of mine gets hold on it, and thegent soon offers a reward for its recovery. This don't bring it backquite so soon as he expects, 'cos he don't offer enough; so he goes toan agent, Mr. Simpkins, in the Edger Road, and Mr. Simpkins says tohim--says he, 'How are you, sir? I expected you some days ago. You'vecom'd about that ere Scotch terrier. You've got a wallable greyhound, Iunderstand. A man told me he'd have that afore long.' Seein' the gentstare, Mr. S. adds, 'Vel, I'll tell you wot you must give for your dog.The party von't take less than six guineas. He knows it ain't vorth sixshillin', but it's a great favourite, and has given him a precious sighto' trouble in gettin' it.' 'Give _him_ trouble!' cries the gentangrily--'and what has it given me? I hope to see the rascal hanged! Ishall pay no such money.' 'Werry vell,' replies Mr. Simpkins coolly,'then your dog'll be bled to death, as the nobleman's wos, and throwndown a breathless carkis afore your door.'"
"You don't mean to say that such a horrid circumstance as that reallytook place?" cried Thorneycroft, who was much interested in therelation.
"Only t'other day, I assure you," replied Ginger.
"I'd shoot the ruffian who treated a dog of mine so, if I caught him!"cried Mr. Thorneycroft indignantly.
"And sarve him right, too," said Ginger. "I discourages all cruelty tohanimals. But don't interrupt me again. Arter a bit more chafferin' vithMr. Simpkins, the gent offers three pound for his dog, and then goesavay. Next day he reads a report i' the _Times_ noospaper that a man hasbeen taken up for dog-stealin', and that a lot o' dogs is shut up in thegreen-yard behind the police-office in Bow Street. So he goes there insearch o' his favourite, and sure enough he finds it, but the inspectorvon't give it up to him, 'cos the superintendent is out o' the vay."
"Shameful!" cried Mr. Thorneycroft.
"Shameful, indeed, sir," echoed Ginger, laughing. "Thinkin' his dog safeenough in the hands o' the police, the gent sleeps soundly that night,but ven he goes back next mornin' he finds it has disappeared. Thegreen-yard has been broken into overnight, and all the dogs stolen fromit."
"Under the noses of the police?" cried Thorneycroft.
"Under their werry noses," replied Ginger. "But now comes the cream o'the jest. You shall hear wot the beak says to him ven the gent craveshis assistance. 'I can't interfere in the matter,' says he, a-bendin' ofhis brows in a majestic manner. 'Parties don't ought to come here vithcomplaints of vhich I can't take notice. This place ain't an advertisin'office, and I sha'n't suffer it to be made von. I von't listen tostatements affectin' the characters of absent parties.' Statementsaffectin' _our_ characters,--do you tvig that, sir?"
"I do, indeed," said Thorneycroft, sighing; "and I am sorry to thinksuch a remark should have dropped from the bench."
"You're right to say dropped from it, si
r," laughed Ginger. "I told youthe beaks vos our best friends; they alvays takes our parts. Ven thegent urges that it was a subject of ser'ous importance to alldog-owners, the magistrit angrily interrupts him, sayin'--'Then letthere be a meetin' of dog-owners to discuss their grievances. Don't cometo me. I can't help you.' And he vouldn't if he could, 'cos he's thedog-fancier's friend."
"It looks like it, I must own," replied Thorneycroft. "Suchreprehensible indifference gives encouragement to people of yourprofession. Government itself is to blame. As all persons who keep dogspay a tax for them, their property ought to be protected."
"I'm quite satisfied vith the present state of the law," said Ginger;"here's the vorthy beak! I'll drink his health a second time."
"Halloa! wot's that?" cried the Tinker; "I thought I heerd a noise."
"So did I," rejoined the Sandman; "a strange sort o' rumblin' soundoverhead."
"There it goes again!" cried Ginger; "wot an awful din!"
"Now it's underneath," said Mr. Thorneycroft, turning pale, andtrembling. "It sounds as if some hidden machinery were at work."
The noise, which up to this moment had borne an indistinct resemblanceto the creaking of wheels and pulleys, now increased to a violentclatter, while the house was shaken as if by the explosion of a minebeneath it.
At the same time, the occupants of the chairs received a sharpelectrical shock, that agitated every limb, and caused Mr. Thorneycroftto let fall his pistol, which went off as it reached the ground. At thesame time, the Sandman dropped his goblet, and the Tinker relinquishedhis grasp of the cutlass. Before they could recover from the shock, allthree were caught by stout wooden hooks, which, detaching themselvesfrom the back of the chairs, pinioned their arms, while their legs wererestrained by fetters, which sprang from the ground and clasped roundtheir ankles. Thus fixed, they struggled vainly to get free. The chairsseemed nailed to the ground, so that all efforts to move them provedfutile.
But the worst was to come. From the holes in the ceiling already alludedto, descended three heavy bell-shaped helmets, fashioned like those wornby divers at the bottom of the sea, and having round eyelet-holes ofglass. It was evident, from the manner of their descent, that thesehelmets must drop on the heads of the sitters--a conviction that filledthem with inexpressible terror. They shouted, and swore frightfully; buttheir vociferations availed them nothing. Down came the helmets, and thesame moment the monkey, which had been seen by Reeks, issued from acupboard at the top of a cabinet, and grinned and gibbered at them.
Down came the first helmet, and covered the Tinker to the shoulders. Hisappearance was at once ludicrous and terrible, and his roaring withinthe casque sounded like the bellowing of a baited bull.
Down came the second helmet, though rather more slowly, and the Sandmanwas eclipsed in the same manner as the Tinker, and roared as loudly.
The Enchanted Chairs.]
In both these instances the helmets had dropped without guidance, but inthe case of Mr. Thorneycroft, a hand, thrust out of the hole in theceiling, held the helmet suspended over his head, like the sword ofDamocles. While the poor iron-merchant momentarily expected the samedoom as his companions, his attention was attracted towards the monkey,which, clinging with one hand to the side of the cabinet, extendedthe other skinny arm towards him, and exclaimed--"Will you swear to gohence if you are spared?"
"No, I will not," replied the iron-merchant. He had scarcely spoken,when the helmet fell with a jerk, and extinguished him like the others.
Ginger alone remained. During the whole of this strange scene, he hadstood with the bottle in hand, transfixed with terror and astonishment,and wholly unable to move or cry out. A climax was put to his fright, bythe descent of the three chairs, with their occupants, through the floorinto a vault beneath; and as the helmets were whisked up again to theceiling, and the trap-doors closed upon the chairs, he dropped thebottle, and fell with his face upon the table. He was, however, soonroused by a pull at his hair, while a shrill voice called him by hisname.
"Who is it?" groaned the dog-fancier.
"Look up!" cried the speaker, again plucking his hair.
Ginger complied, and beheld the monkey seated beside him.
"Vy, it can't be, sure_ly_," he cried. "And yet I could almost svear itwas Old Parr."
"You're near the mark," replied the other, with a shrill laugh. "It isyour venerable friend."
"Vot the deuce are you doing here, and in this dress, or raytherundress?" inquired Ginger. "Ven I see you this mornin', you wos in theserwice of Mr. Loftus."
"I've got a new master since then," replied the dwarf.
"I'm sorry to hear it," said Ginger, shaking his head. "You haven't soldyourself, like Doctor Forster--eh?"
"Faustus, my dear Ginger--not Forster," corrected Old Parr. "No, no,I've made no bargain. And to be plain with you, I've no desire to remainlong in my present master's service."
"I don't like to ask the question too directly, wenerable," saidGinger, in a deprecatory tone--"but is your master--hem!--ishe--hem!--the--the----"
"The devil, you would say," supplied Old Parr. "Between ourselves, I'mafraid there's no denying it."
"La! wot a horrible idea!" exclaimed Ginger, with a shudder; "it makesthe flesh creep on one's bones. Then we're in your master's power?"
"Very like it," replied Old Parr.
"And there ain't no chance o' deliverance?"
"None that occurs to me."
"O Lord! O Lord!" groaned Ginger; "I'll repent. I'll become a reformedcharacter. I'll never steal dogs no more."
"In that case, there may be some chance for you," said Old Parr. "Ithink I could help you to escape. Come with me, and I'll try and get youout."
"But wot is to become of the others?" demanded Ginger.
"Oh, leave them to their fate," replied Old Parr.
"No, that'll never do," cried Ginger. "Ve're all in the same boat, andmust row out together the best vay ve can. I tell you wot it is,wenerable," he added, seizing him by the throat--"your master may bethe devil, but you're mortal; and if you don't help me to deliver mycompanions, I'll squeege your windpipe for you."
"That's not the way to induce me to help you," said Old Parr, twistinghimself like an eel out of the other's gripe. "Now get out, if you can."
"Don't be angry," cried Ginger, seeing the mistake he had committed, andtrying to conciliate him; "I only meant to frighten you a bit. Can youtell me if Mr. Auriol Darcy is here?"
"Yes, he is, and a close prisoner," replied Old Parr.
"And the girl--Miss Ebber, wot of her?"
"I can't say," rejoined Old Parr. "I can only speak to the living."
"Then she's dead!" cried Ginger, with a look of horror.
"That's a secret," replied the dwarf mysteriously; "and I'm bound by aterrible oath not to disclose it."
"I'll have it out of you notvithstandin'," muttered Ginger. "I vish youwould lend me a knock on the head, old feller. I can't help thinkin'I've got a terrible fit o' the nightmare."
"Let this waken you, then," said Old Parr, giving him a sound buffet onthe ear.
"Holloa, wenerable! not so hard!" cried Ginger.
"Ha! ha! ha!" screamed the dwarf. "You know what you're about now."
"Not exactly," said Ginger. "I vish I wos fairly out o' this cursedplace!"
"You shouldn't have ventured into the lion's den," said Old Parr, in ataunting tone. "But come with me, and perhaps I may be able to dosomething towards your liberation."
So saying, he drew aside the tapestry, and opened a panel behind it,through which he passed, and beckoned Ginger to follow him. Taking apistol from his pocket, the latter complied.