Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire

ceeded far, when they perceived a watchman standing beneath a porch with a lantern in his hand, and thinking it an intimation that the house was a

repaired thither, and knocking at the door, a small wicket, protected by a g

yvil, slipping a purse through the grating; "and

" replied the woman, in

your messa

Lydyard. "You should have kept back yo

ny," replied Wyvil. "I have taken the surest

the way to a sort of anteroom, divided, as it appeared, from a larger room by a thick black curtain. Drawing aside the drapery, their conductress ushered them

e nose, dark eyes, not yet robbed of their lustre, grey hair waving over his shoulders, and a pointed beard and moustache. The general expression of his countenance was shrewd and penetrating,

pletely bald; but his massive and towering brow seemed to indicate the possession of no ordinary intellectual qualities. He was a native of Manchester, and was born in 1601, of a good family. "His excellent verses upon the twelve months," says Lilly, in his autobiography, "framed according to the configurations of each month, being blessed with success according to his predictions, procured him much reputation all over England. He was a v

omy. He was habited in the cassock of a churchman of the period, and his black velvet cap lay beside him on the table. Like Booker, he was buried in

ents, and appearing to study their features, Lilly mo

y," said Wyvil, "but simply to ask your judgm

you, I presume, that I received it," replied the astrologer. "N

But seeing the other resolute,

desire to have resolve

nate in my hopes?

urned the astrologer. "To what do your h

tter," rep

well-dignified; and I should, therefore, say you were not unfrequently entangled in love affairs. Your inamor

ou describe,"

ur own rank?"

yvil, hesitating before

as the natural significatrix of the lady. The moon is in trine with the lord of the ascendant,-so far, good; but there is a cross aspect from Mars, who darts forth m

aimed "Wyvil be

re who thus insult me, though you have not announced yourself, and are desirous of preservin

but whether by art, magic, or from previous acquaint

ger as Wyvil," replied Etherege,-"you owe Mr. Lilly an apology for the insult you have offered

frankness, "and entreat Mr. Lilly to overlook it, and imp

" replied Lilly; "but I readily accept your apo

t I would gladly learn whether it is your opi

the sick," replied Lilly. "You may have seen a little tract of mine published in 1651,-some fourteen years ago

ighest opinion of your skill, Mr. Lilly, as he cannot blind himself to the fact that you foretold

my lord," replied Lilly. "London will be

me?" asked

and the conjunction of Saturn and Mars in the same sign, on the 12th of November. It was harbingered also by the terrible comet of January, which appeared in a cadent and obscure house,

August and September, and will not cease entirely till the b

sir," said Lilly, "for your ca

overed what I have long suspected, that treasure is hidden in Saint Paul's Cathedral. Mercury is posited in the north

replie

n, "as the sign is earthy, the tre

ly," repli

said Quatremain. "Let us go there at onc

he added to Rochester, "I must pray you to excu

should like to accompany you in

uatremain," rejoined Lilly. "If he

s acquiescence, and after some slight preparation,

he was to have no rest that night. On learning their purpose, however, he displayed the utmost alacrity, and by Quatremain's directions went

rd Holt, of beholding the magnificent effect of the columned aisles by moonlight. By this time the other verger, who was a young and active man,

, moving first to one point, then to another; now lingering within the gloomy nave, now within the gloomier aisles; the grave minor canon, who kept close beside him, and watched his movements with the most intense anxiety; Booker, with his venerable head uncovered, and his bald brow ref

ionless. At length, however, Lilly reached a part of the wall where a door appeared

he exclaimed. "It is h

their mattocks and the iron bar. Rochester ran up and tendered his aid; Ethe

and the younger verger commenced digging. When they were tired, Lilly and Quatremain took their places, and in less than an hour they had got to the depth of upwards of four feet.

it!" he cried, ren

he whole party were discussing the matter, when a tremendous crash, succeeded by a terrific yell, was heard at the other end of the church, and a ghastly and half-naked figure, looking like a

courage to drag the unfortunate sexton