Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 114: what you’re looking at

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e ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS establishment, which I found to be crowded with | a few shillings in the other. 101 I had however little lady-customers, it being one of the best and most, doubt that the reticule contained the purse lost at fashionable in Regent Street. I was known there, and always experienced the utmost civility. On entering, a chair was at once placed by some un- derling for my accommodation, at the only unoc- cupied part in front of the counter to which I re- paired; and the shopman who came forward to serve me, addressed me by the pseudonym of Miss Trafford. I stated what I required; and when my orders were given, I noticed that accident had again brought me ia contact with Lady Mangold. She was seated on my right hand, and appeared to be so busily engaged in the inspection of silks and laces that she affected not to perceive me. I could well understand the silly pride of the old lady, who would not for all the world have bestowed so much as a sign of recognition upon me in a shop where I was evidently known. The same shop- man who was attending to her ladyship, was like- Wise now serving me; and I on my part pretended to be as completely unacquainted with her as she chose to seem in respect to myself. As I had numerous purchases to make, I re- mained for some time in the shop, while Lady Mangold appeared to be equally occupied with the piles of goods that were scattered before her. She turned over everything—but seemed to be buying very little. I had already made a selection of the greater portion of the things which I required ; and the shopman had turned aside to procure some other articles, when an incident occurred which struck me with amazement and stupefaction. Though not appearing to be taking the slightest notice of her ladyship, I was really regarding her at the moment; for the recollection of her ludi- crous whim to personate the Goddess of Beauty was floating in my mind. All of a sudden I per- ceived her place her white cambric pocket hand- kerchief over three pieces of costly lace, and then consign that kerchief with the articles to her reticule. I say that I was smitten with amazement and stupefaction. Could I possibly believe the evi- dence of my own vision? had I seen aright? I sat gazing upon her in blank astonishment, while she continued more assiduously than ever to turn over the goods that were piled before her. At that moment a shopman, who did not serve behind the counter, but whose duty it was to place the chairs for the accommodation of the lady-customers, dropped his handerchief close by my seat; and as he stooped to pick it up, he hastily whispered, “Be so kind, Miss Trafford, as not to mention what you have just seen.” { started as my ear caught these words: the shopman bent upon mea respectful look, which was alike significant and full of entreaty; and he lounged away to the opposite side of the establish- ment. ‘The shopman who was serving me, now returned with the fresh articles that I had inquired | felt as I spoke. for; ana Lady Mangold said with the most perfect self-possession, “There! I have chosen these things. De so good as to make out the bill.” Her request was immediately accede! to; and she took forth her purse to pay the amount. I glanced at that purse, to ascertain if it contained much money; so that I might form an idea whether it was the one lost by the Duchess: but it only had four or five sovereigns in one end, and Ardleigh House, in addition to the three pieces of lace just self-appropriated by Lady Mangold at the counter of the fashionable establishment. She paid the bill, and proceeded to her carriage, with- out having bestowed the slightest sign of recog: nition upon me. By this time the shop had become comparatively empty; and I was now the only customer left at the counter on that side where I was seated. In the meanwhile the shopman who had witnessed the theft, and who had whispered the entreaty that I would not expose it, had made some hurried com- munication to the shopmar who was serving me. This latter, now finding the coast sufficiently clear, said in an under-tone, “I understand, Miss Traf- ford, you saw something that Lady Mangold just did ?” “I saw her secrete three pieces of lace,” I re- plied; “and I was shocked—I was dismayed—I could scarcely believe my own eyes!” “No wonder, Miss,” continued the shopman: “that old lady is the greatest thief that comes to our establishment. She will lay out a pound and steal the worth of five.” ** But how is it possible,” I asked, in coe ment, “that you put up with it ?” - We are compelled to do so,” meets the shopman. “ We keep as keen a watch over her a3 possible: but one caunot always have one’s eyes fixed upon her; for she will sit here an hour till she gets something, if it is only a pair of gloves. The worst is that in her case it is all sheer loss; for if we were to send in a bill for that lace, for instance, she would vow and protest she never aad it—there would be an exposure, and the establish- ment would be ruined.” “You mean Lady Mangold would be ruined ?” I observed. * No—I mean the establishment, Miss. You would be astonished,” he continued, still speaking in an under-tone, “at the number of lady-thieves there are; and they are some of the richest too. It is a mania, I suppose—but it prevails to a frigutful extent. In some cases we send in the bill half-yearly for the things that are thus pilfered ; and the accounts are paid without a murmur. In other cases the husbands themselves call every now and then, and inquire what is owing by their wives. We know what is meant; and the money is at once paid. There are other cases, again, in which the lady’s-maids or the ‘ companions’ of our thievish customers come in the course of the day, and bring back to us the articles that have been plifered. But still there are many cases, like that of Lady Mangold, where the gvods are neither paid for nor returned; and we have to put up with all the loss.” “You have astounded me,” I said: and I really * But still [ cannot conceive why you should tamely put up with these losses, as in the case of Lady Mangold “Suppose, Miss,” rejoined the shopman, “ that Lady Mangold had just now been given into cus- tody—thbe magistrate must have committed her for trial, or else held her to bail till the case was hushed up. But the consequences to us would be fearful. At least two-thirds of our best customers would leave off dealing with us. I don’t mean CORNICLOO® Com