Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

and composedly. “Oh! but this was going too far !” I ejaculated : “it was a species of crime !” “ It was only a just retribution,” rejoined Beda. ‘¢ Was no punishment to overtake St. Clair ¥ -* But there is the punishment of the law,” I exclaimed; “and this time if must be in- voked Pt “ No, Miss!” interrupted Beda ; “ the punish- ment of those conspirators is already inflicted by the discomfiture of their schemes and the sinking of their ship. I swore to Zarah that in whatso- ever manner I might at any time be enabled to save you from the persecutions of Edwin St. Clair, I would faithfully abstain from bringing him within the grasp of the law. What Zarah’s motives may have been in urging this injunction upon me, I know not: suffice it to say that I swore to observe it. And now, Miss Percy, you under: stand why I would tell you nothing of all these matters when you pressed me on your arrival this afternoon. I was determined that the vessel should be sunk; and I knew full well that if 1 unveiled my plan to you, your generous scruples would militate against it. Now the work is done; and I rejoice—I am exultant !” Beda’s fine dark eyes glanced luminously as she thus spoke; and I could not help saying, “ After all, perhaps, you were right: for if the horrible surmise which is floating in my mind €. “That surmise is the accurate one,” interrupted Beda emphatically; ** for it was nothing less than your death that wa$ contemplated—your murder that was intended! Percy, that when I lay concealed in that coffin- like recess, listening to the diabolical plans and fiendish intentions of those two wretches, I had any compunction in respect to the course which I should afterwards pursue? Believe me, when I obtained the hideous conviction that it was the life of my own beloved mistress which was threat- ened, I could cheerfully and gladly have handed over those foul conspirators to the strong grasp of the law, were it not for the solemn pledge I had given to Zarah. But let me explain the intentions of those wretches. You were to be either inveigled by stratagem on board the yacht, or carried thither by force when opportunity should serve. This being accomplished, the yacht would have imme- diately put out to sea; and then, while you were locked in the inner cabin, the villain St, Clair would have executed his fatal project. The trap- door would have been opened——in a short time the crew would have found that the vessel was sink- ing—the idea that a plank had been started would have become general—prompt recourse would have been had to the boats—and in the confusion none of the men would have thought of yow until it was too late! All would have been saved but yourself, my beloved mistress!—the tale would have been spread of your accidental death—and no shadow of suspicion would ever have at- tached itself to St. Clair! These were the fright- ful plans—these the combinations of a fiend-like ingenuity, But heaven be thanked! they are all baffled !” “And to you, dear Beda,” I said, “am I in debted for my life! But tell me wherefore when I arrived here this afternoon, did you give me to ne ne — re ne Oh, think you, dear Miss —_—_—_— a ae eee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, “ Precisely so, Miss,” answered Beda, quietly | understand that my coming this day was most opportune ?” “ Because to-day,” replied Beda, “ Captain St. Clair is absent from Ramsgate; and he is not to return until to-morrow. He went on board the yacht early this morning; and having superin- tended the laying-in of a quantity of wine, in the lockers and recesses of the inner cabin, he locked the door. Hence the necessity of breaking open that door just now; for I knew that the forged letter had been left in the writing-case: and I wished you to see if as a corroboration of all the details of a story which, without such proof, I feared might be too wildly wondrous in its infa« mies and its horrors to be believed by you. More. over, I was resolved that you should possess yours self of this letter, in order that you might be enabled to produce it in a court of justice, in case Captain St. Clair should by an audacious step endeavour to brand and punish us for the offence of sinking his vessel. I have only a few more details to give,’ continued Beda. “You may easily suppose, Miss Percy, that mine was no yery comfortable position—shut up in that recess for more than an hour the night before last—not daring to move lest the slightest sound should be- tray my presence horribly cramped —and at length experiencing an increased difficulty in breathing! Immense therefore was the relief I felt when St. Clair and Lady Lilla Essendiue took their departure, William Lardner was on the watch; and he immediately came to rescue me from my narrow prison-house, I can assure you that for nearly half-an-hour I was unable to re- cover the complete use of my limbs: it was a per- fect martyrdom which I had been experiencing. But if in one sense I was horrified at all that I had heard, in another sense I was rejoiced, inas- much as I had fathomed the whole conspiracy—I had penetrated the entire web of fiend-like wicked- ness which had been so ingeniously woven to en- mesh you. I explained everything to William Lardner: he himself was horrified and appalled at what he heard, and at the idea of having enlisted in the service of so infamous a master. He vowed to assist me in whatsoever way I might point out. St. Clair had so accurately described to Lady Lilla Essendine the working of the mechanism prepared for the scuttling of the vessel that I thoroughly comprehended it; and before I separated from Wil- liam Lardner that evening, we examined the iron handle concealed within the bed of the sofa; and he satisfied himself that he could turn it. This morning, as I have already told you, St. Clair visited the yacht; and then he went away, inti- mating that he should not return until to-morrow. William assured me that in the evening his com- rades would be certain to repair to the public- house to have a carouse; and it was settled be- tween us that the opportunity should not be allowed to pass. We were resolved that the yacht should be sunk; and it was my purpose to obtain possession of that forged letter in order to corro- borate my tale when next I should see you. But you came, Miss Perey—and I was rejoiced! You came-—and I was determined that you should wit- ness this step that it was requisite to take for the sinking of the sinister vessel which had been in- tended to serve as your coffin in the abysm of the deep waters of the sea! It is done;—and now CoOnmmicloool com