Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

esses : 198 When I had sat with her for some time, I touched upon the principal object of my present visit. Butas I went on to explain what I had already done in respect to the sealed packet—the manner in which I was anxious to dispose of it— and the guarantee that I should thereby establish for my future safety, or at least for the punish- ment of those who might proceed to extremes against me—a cloud gradually came over Zarah’s countenance, and I saw that she grew more and more distressed. * IT cannot wonder, Miss Perey,” she said, “ that you should take these precautions after everything that has occurred. It is natural !—it is indeed only too consistent with ordinary prudence! But on the other hand, you cannot fail to perceive that you are adopting a course which may prove most dangerous—nay, most fatal to my aged relative and to myself. You have penned a statement which, if perused by any friend to whom you may entrust it, would have the effect of handing Edwin St. Clair and Lady Lilla Essendine to the grasp of justice : at the same time the strong arm of the law would be extended to clutch my grandmother and myself,”.—— * Alas! this is but too true, Zarah,” I inter- rupted her; “ and for these reasons I have hesi- tated to consign that packet to the care of any in- dividual. I willdo nothing that shall compromise you. I will sooner incur any risk or run any danger !”” “ Stop !” ejaculated Zarah: “ there are precau- tions which can be taken, and which shall be adopted! I spoke to you of a young girl of our tribe who is now in attendance upon my old re- lative. Yes—Beda shall be enlisted in our in- terests! I wonder that I thought not of this before! They are still in London ; and I will see Beda to-night. Rest assured, Miss Perey, that I will take measures for your safety under any cir- cumstances,—measures indeed which in case of emergency shall be far more effective than any that could result from the plan which you had pro- posed to adopt. Should St. Clair or Lady Lilla Essendine renew their evil machinations against you—should they succeed in again ensnaring you in their toils—within the same hour from Beda’s lips shall I learn the calamity. Then fear not for the result! As I have succoured and saved you before, so will I succour and save you again. Are you satisfied with this promise ?—can you rely upon my pledge P” “T am satisfied, and I am full of reliance,” was my response. ‘“ The packet shall be consigned to the hands of no one; nor will I do anything that shall compromise your aged relative or yourself.” Zarah expressed her gratitude for the decision to which I thus came; and I took my leave of her, with the promise to renew my visit shortly. As I was descending the stuwirs I heard footsteps coming down the flight above; and as the indi- vidual proceeded more quickly than myself, he overtook me in the passage leading to the front door. With true foreign politeness, he lifted his hat, and moved past in order to open the door to give me egress. I was at once struck by his ap- aparance. The first glance impressed me with the idea that he was the same persun whom Beatrice had so suddenly and so unexpectedly encountered near the private entrance to the theatre. The se. ELLEN PERCY; OB, THE MEMOIES OF AN ACTRESS. eond look which I threw upon him established this conviction in my mind; and he fully answered to the description which the Marchioness of Cam- panella had given me of the Count of Carboni. [ did not however suffer him to perceive that his appearance had produced any extraordinary effect upon me: nor did he seem to know who I was. I slightly inclined my head in acknowledgment of his civility in opening the door to let me pass out; and I continued my way along the street. But on reaching the end, I looked back; and not per- ceiving the foreigner, I retraced my way to the house. Ascending to Zarah’s sitting-room, I said to her, “Something has just occurred in which I think you can assist me. Do you know who lodges in this house besides yourself ?” * There is a foreign gentleman,” replied Zarah: “but I do not know his name. He is an Italian, I believe, from something which the landlady told me; and he has a valet. He is reputed to be rich, but exceedingly eccentric.” “In what manner is he eccentric ?” I inquired. “His bed-room is over this apartment,” cons tinued Zarah: “his sitting-rooms are on the ground-floor. I thus have him at times under- neath and overhead. During the day-time he paces to and fro in his parlour: I can distinetly hear the measured monotony of his steps. I have as yet only slept one night in the house: but cer- tainly I am not exaggerating when I declare that for three or four hours he did nothing but walk to and fro in his chamber, as he had done during the day-time in his parlour. Many persons would ob- ject to this; but to me,” added Zarah, with a smile, “itis a matter of the most perfect indiffer- ence. He not only paces to and fro in this restless manner—but he talks to himself: he gives vent to sudden and passionate ejaculations; there is either something very bad upon his conscience, or else he has sustained some terrible calamity.” “T have particular reasons, Zarah,” I said, “ for wishing to know as much as possible about this individual, Ascertain his name, if you can— although I think that I am already acquainted with it. Do not ask me any questions now: I may perhaps tell you more another time.” * Rest assured, Miss Percy,” responded Zarah, “that I will endeavour to ascertain alll can glean in reference to this personage:—and with regard to your motives, you need not apologize for with- holding them. I know they must be good ones; and I have no undue curiosity upon the point.” I now again took my leave of Zarah, and re- turned to Hunter Street,—resolving to say no- thing to the Marquis and Marchioness of Cam- panella in respect to the incident which had just occurred, until I should have acquired a still more positive certainty that the foreign gentleman was indeed the Count of Carboni. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE FEARFUL PICTURE. In the evening of the following day, I appeared in the character of Portia, in “The Merchant of Venice.” It was in that scene, where I had to enact the part of an advocate,—that while glancing Gomichooks.com