Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 134: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

128 ROSE MORTIMER. grand house, though where to will ever remain a mystery to me.”’ Rose felt that she could have enlightened her had she dared to speak. “Well,” continued Mrs. Davis, ‘“‘ upon the second day the tall man in the mask brought me a sumptuous meal upon a tray. Again, of course, I begged for some explanation of the cruel outrage, but he was silent. Upon my pressing him hardly on the subject he replied, in a voice which will always ring in my ears, ‘ Let your curiosity be satisfied that it has brought you thus far already. Pushed further, it may lead to such lights as you will find unpleasant!’ ” “ Ah!? Rose mentally ejaculated. ‘‘ Then it is as I suspected.’’ Of this there could be no donbt. The words clearly implied that they believed she was in the fatal secret which imperilled their safety. It was galling in the extreme to our heroine that she durst not speak. ‘‘ Well,’’? resumed Mrs. Dayis. ‘“‘ After this speech, which seemed to contain a deal of hidden meaning and threats, the purport of which I could not under- stand, he left me, pointing sternly to the meal upon the tray. ‘“ Now this tray, I must tell you, was placed upon- a small table near the wall, and just over it hung a picture of some faded beauty of a long long time ago. As I advanced to the table to taste the tempt-~- ing delicacies with which it was filled—for I was now sinking with hunger—I fancied this picture moved. I was very much frightened at this, for everything seemed to impress me with such horrible sensations ; but I drew. nearer, and lo! a paper slid from beneath it and fell upon the table. **T picked it up with a mixture of curiosity and fear, and read these words— ““¢ Beware of all food |” “Poison !’’ exclaimed the landlady’s listeners spon- taneously. “So. I supposed,” said Mrs. Davis, “ and I refrained from eating the tempting delicacies. But many.and many were the longing glances which I cast towards them. I walked up and down my. room lamenting my fate aloud, in the hope of exciting my un- seen adviser to render me assistance as well as advice. ‘Whoever sends me this warning,’ I said, ‘pray accept my earnest gratitude, but at the same time I must starve, for I am already sick and faint with hunger.’ However, my appeal still remained unheard, until, weary with fatigue, I sank upon a chair in a state of half insensibility. ‘When I recovered from this it was to hear a slight noise at my refreshment table. I looked and perceived that an addition had been made to the viands already there, in the form of a small loaf and a piece of'a chicken. It had been carefully disjointed and the bones removed.” ‘* T see the object of that,’’ said Rose. “I did not, but Ido now. It was, of course, that no scraps might betray the hand of my strange bene- factor. ‘* With the food was a second note, which is here.” Mrs. Davis took a small blotted paper from her pocket and read— ““¢ All may be wellif you are careful and keep this JSrom their knowledge. If you betray me, we are both lost, for I am now your only hope. Touch no Sood whatever. But to gain time and prevent the employment of force, and to destroy all idea that you entertain suspicion of foul plays; endeavour to get rid of some of the food and wine. The latter you can empty about in hidden corners. The food you must cut up and sprinkle about. Tam here toaid you. Fear nothing and be bold.’ ‘I can scarcely say which were my most pro- minent sensations at reading tnis—fear or security. It was a mixture of the two I imagine. How- ever, I determined to obey its instructions, and very soon had to commence my counterplot with the masked man. My first care was to assure the picture, for this represented my hidden benefactor or benefac- tress, that I was all gratitude and obedience, and to be implicitly relied upon. Then I took my bottle of wine and carefully poured about an eighth of it about in small doses. The meat which had been brought up by the masked man TI cut about, and threw very small bits in out-of-the-way corners. The next day I found out the real service which my unseen corre- spondent had rendered me, as I show you. I had just concluded my job when the door handle turned, My last food was yet upon the table. With a bound J was there, and had removed it to a chair upon which I sat down, covering it effectually, as the door opened, and my masked jailor came in. ”’ “Go on,’’ said Mr. Davis, breathless with interest. ‘J was in great alarm, of course, and how I contrived to keep it from his piercing gaze I cannot understand. The only thing is, I suppose, that he saw no extra emotion, and imagined it all to spring from the self- same source. Goodness knows that there was enough to scare away one’s wits in being there alone.”’ ce True. ” ** Poor creature,’? said Rose. Mrs. Davis pressed our heroine’s hand war mly, and continued— “As my jailor came in I saw his coal-black eyes, glistening like diamonds with malice and murder, glance eagerly upon the tray through the two holes in the mask. “My heart beat quickly, but I said nothing. “*¢ You have eaten ?’ he said. ““¢T have finished,’ I replied. “<< Tf you have eaten,’ he said, with a “satirical smile, ‘ that says all!’ “T shivered with this terrible proof of the truth of my unseen benefactor, but held my peace. “It was evidently a piece of satire, at my expense, which I was not supposed to comprehend. However, I merely bowed my head before him, as he gathered up the things upon the tray. When he had finished he paused by the door and turned round to me, evi- dently awaiting me to question him again, as I had done upon each previous entrance, as to the cause of my being there. ‘* However, I would not give him this gratification: if indeed it was any to him, and I fancy that he must have taken a wonderful pleasure in seeing my agony and sufferings, and I had the pleasure in turn of wit- nessing his disappointment. ***So, so, madam,’ he said, in his harsh grating voice, ‘you have grown resigned to your new quarters I am glad to find.’ <<] have,’ said I, meekly. resigned to them ?’ ‘¢¢ Why, indeed?’ said he. ““¢ Am I not treated here in a way that I cannot pos- sibly be at home ?’ ** He smiled significantly before replying to this ob- servation. ** And we both felt an inward satisfaction, and both with the same cause. But with this difference.—I was supposed to be the deceived, whilst he as ac tually.” “Capital!” said the husband of the speaker, rub- bing his palms, which were moist with eager excite- ment. ‘‘ Goon.” *** To be sure you are,’ said my jailor, ‘ and, more- over, in a way that you never will be treated there again.’ “Why should I not be COnmilcoooksecom