Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. ~ oO vv eee The writing was not that of a common person. The letters were sharp and angular. Who could have learnt her private affairs? her habits ? her husband’s ? Who had entered the house at such an hour? for it must be a stranger. “‘T must go and see,” she muttered. ‘I have never yet feared to face man or woman. Why should I now?” With a trembling hand, in spite of her daring flash- ing eye, she lit her small alabaster lamp, and then gathered up her silken skirts to move as noiselessly as possible. She then unlocked the door and passed silently into the passage. : Not a sound was to be heard. All the lamps had been extinguished hours ago, and there was something in the dark stillness of the gloomy house which struck with a ghastly chill on the young wife’s heart. Softly and slowly Clara passed through the long passages. Not a sound disturbed the stillness. - Nota ray of light, but the tiny one shed by her own lamp, broke on the intense darkness. Upstairs she went, through room after room. Suddenly she paused. She had trodden on something. What was it? She stooped and picked it up. It was a woman’s glove. A yery small lilac kid glove. Tiny as Clara’s fair hand was, that elegant little kid glove was too small for it. She flung it down as though it had been some _ venomous reptile. More than once had she been insulted by the praises of that Lilliputian hand; and that woman was in her house. All fear now faded from her heart. Tumultuous passion, fierce murderous anger, blotted out every softer feeling. On she went. A sound caught her ear, A distant sound, but distinct enough to direct her steps towards her own bedroom. More quickly now did Clara’s noiseless feet pass along the thick carpets. In a moment more she had reached the door leading to her own apartments. It stood wide open, and there within she saw a sight which filled her with rage. The wax tapers standing on the splendid toilet table were all alight, and in the chair in which not two hours ago she herself had sat lounged a woman—a small beautiful woman—with great dark glowing eyes, whose wonderful lustre and equally wonderful wicked- ness had gained for their possessor the name of the ‘* Beautiful Fiend.”’ She was bending over the arm of the chair, watching the operations of the count as he knelt on the floor, ransacking the contents of a box, and Clara could see that those dreadful beautiful eyes of hers watched for the appearance of the jewels with an eagerness which was eyen more intense than her companion’s. ‘They were for her, then. He told me a lie,” Clara murmured fiercely to herself. “IT told you they would not be there,” said the Beautiful Fiend, in a voice loud enough to show that she cared little who might be within hearing. ‘‘ You may be quite sure that they are safer than where mere locks and keys could make them. Count, you are a fool to go on wasting your time about the box.” ‘‘ What would you have me do?’’ Lerno replied sharply. The beautiful woman thrust out her white arm, her and me, and there’s an end of it. glittering already with one magnificent bracelet, and pointed ovey her shoulder. “You are a man,” she said sarcastically, ‘and can’t force a woman to find her tongue.” ** You don’t know her,” sulkily returned the count. “Introduce me to her, then,” laughed the woman, sneeringly. ‘‘I’d wager all her diamonds I’d make her say where they are.” “You could not, I tell you,’’ the count returned, angrily. ‘‘I tell you Clara would sooner part with her life than those cursed jewels. She has told me so many a time.” ** Then take her at her word,” hissed the Beautiful bg in alow voice, slowly advancing her face towards im. There was a moment’s silence. ‘‘ How much longer are you going to delude me with promises, Count Lerno? How much longer am I to wait for the jewels ?”’ Thus she continued, in the same hissing tone, with her splendid wicked eyes glowing like a demun’s. **How much longer is that woman, that obstinate silly wife of yours, to standin my way ?” “Madge,” the count said, half entreatingly, ce trust: ““T won’t trust,’? returned the woman carelessly, ** A promise is a promise. You must choose between You’ve got your answer, Count Lerno.” So saying, she rose from her seat, drew her velvet mantle over her shoulders, and turned haughtily away. But at the same instant the count’s wife came with great stateliness into the room, holding the lamp above her head, and looking with fearless proud eyes at her treacherous husband and her beautiful rival. For a single moment the latter looked with startling dismay into the face of the wife. Then, with a shriek of deadly passion, she sprang upon Clara, clasping her throat with her tiny white jewelled hands. Clara staggered and fell. Her husband stirred not. “The jewels !” hissed the Beautiful Fiend in Clara’s ear, as she lay gasping and struggling on the floor beneath her. ‘* Give me the jewels, or I[ will strangle you!” Those tiny hands grasped with deadly power. “The jewels!’ said Madge, again relaxing her hold. Will you give them to me?” Clara moaned. Her husband, pale as a corpse, crept forward. ‘Give them up,” he said, in a hoarse voice. your life, give them up. She is a fiend. restrain her.” 7 ‘“ Woman,” gasped the wife, as the wretch loosed her fingers for a moment, ‘listen. I will show you where they are. 1 will not give them to you.” ‘‘On your oath ?’’ questioned the other. Then, getting up, she suffered Clara to rise, saying— ‘¢ What has been done once can be done twice if you attempt to play me false.”’ “ Have no fear,’”’ replied Clara with a ghastly smile, as she stood up and arranged her dress with fingers still trembling from her late struggle. ‘¢T will tell you no lie, I will show you the place ; but to you alone.” ‘‘ Very well,’’ said the other quickly. ‘‘ After all, to give them to me is the most direct way. Madam, I am at your service.”’ With a mocking bow, she pointed to the door, and caught up her velvet robe in readiness to follow. Clara took the lamp. ‘You will await me here?” she said to her hus- band. ‘ For I cannot SOMMGIOOKSECOIM