Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 247: what you’re looking at

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— TTT Et ST 234 myself had done or that I knew to have been done, and he vowed that he would pardon me. I turned on my heel, and walked away. He mingled amongst the men, and told them that a plug had come out—tbat there was a trap-door in his cabin by which he had discovered it--and that it was now fitted with another. They evidently thought the tale a strange one: but they made no remark. The Captain went away, having previously locked the entrance to his cabins, so that no one should penetrate into either. The men asked me what he had been saying: I contented myself by reply- ing that he had merely been questioning me rela- tive to the accident. They ail think there is some- thing singular somewhere—but they know not what. Sailors, you know, Miss, are apt to be superstitious; and this sinking of the vessel for a reason that is so clumsily explained, has produeed its effect upon those men, They were not there- fore surprised when I intimated my intention of leaving the vessel to-day. As the tide came in, she floated again, just as if no harm had ever be- fallen her.” “And what are you now going to do?” £ in- quired; “for you still wear the dress of a sailor belonging to the yacht.” “The Captain came down again at about seven o’clock this morning,” replied William: “and again did he question me. But I would of course admit nothing; and I told him plainly of my de. termination to leave. He has given orders that the yacht is to be got under weigh socn after ten o'clock; and he is going across to Dunkirk, where, as I heard him tell the mate, he should have her thoroughly looked to. As for myself, Miss, I am now going up into the town to buy myself some clothes: then I throw off these that I haye got on—and [I shall breathe all the more freely when out of the power of such a master.” At this moment Mr. Norman was returning ; and William Lardner, with another respectful touch of the hat, sped away—thus preventing me from offering him the remuneration which [ in. tended, if possible, to force upon his acceptance. Well,” said Mr. Norman, as I again took his arm and we turned to retrace our steps homeward, “1 suppose that sailor has been telling you what was the cause of the accident. It seems that those lubberly French shipwrights who built the vessel =f | . “Yes—I have heard it all,’ I interrupted him, “JT believe the yacht is to sail almost imme- diately ?” “So I am told,” answered Mr. Norman. “But what do you think? It belongs to a gentleman named St. Clair; and from all I learnt it must be that very same St. Clair who used to visit at our house in London, but who suddenly left off calling, I never could precisely ascertain why.” “Yes, it is that same Captain St. Clair,” I re- joined, ‘I have learnt thus much.” Mr. Norman went on talking in reference to the accident to the vessel: he little thought how much I could have enlightenea him upon the subject ! We reached the lodgings; and after breakfast I found an opportunity of being alone with Beda. I told her all that I had heard, and bade her go out to ascertain any other particulars which she might be enabled to pick up; for I intended to delay my departure from Ramsgate until the See REE SRE Renmei TL A RG ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. afternoon. She went out accordingly, and was about an hour absent. “T have seen, William Lardner,” she said, “ and have learnt something more. He went to pur- chase his clothes, and then returned to the vessel to change them and fetch away what else belonged to him. Captain St. Clair went on board shortly after nine o’clock, and bade William follow him to © the cabin. You may suppose, Miss, in what a state those beautiful httle rooms must be after being filled with water for some hours! When they were alone together, Captain St. Clair imme- diately said to William, ‘I know that you are at the bottom of all this; it is useless for you to deny it. Last night, between nine and ten o’clock, two females, coming from the direction of the yacht, met the lady whom you have seen on board with me; and one of them whispered to her some. thing which proved that there has been treachery atwork. Besides,’ added Captain St. Clair, ‘there is @ letter missing from the writing-case in the inner cabin; and this door has been forced open.’ Then William Lardner fixed his eyes upon St. Clair, and said to him, ‘ You had better not ask me, sir, any more upon the subject. If you think Iam in your power you had better try it: give me into custody; and we shall see who will come best off.’.— Captain St. Clair produced a handful of gold and bank-notes: byt William Lardner turned upon his heel, hastened up the stairs, and a few minutes afterwards left the yacht.—I have bidden him farewell,” added Beda, in a voice that was now slightly tremulous; “he is going else- where to look for another ship; but I told him that he might write to me occasionally.” It was tolerably evident that Lady Lilla Hssen- dine had not on the previous evening suspected that I was one of the “ two females” to whom St. Clair had alluded in his conversation with William Lardner. I could fancy how bewildered and dis- mayed the two conspiratoys must be at finding that their plan was so eompletely baflled—and how infinite must be their wonderment and sus- pense in respect to the mode by which all their treacherous designs had become known. “There !” exclaimed Beda, who had happened to glance forth from the window, which was open and commanded a full view of the harbour: “ the yacht is sailing.” And it was so. Her white sails were spread; but they had not as yet fully caucht the breeze; she was therefore moving slowly yet gracefully out of the basin, crowds being still collected on the piers to behold her. I went out into the town to purchase some little presents as a token of my gratitude for Beda; and at two o'clock I took my departure by the coach for Dover. We had to pass through Deal; and the vehicle stopped to take up two ladies, who were walking on the Walmer Road, a little beyond the town. Hitherto I had been the sold occupant of the interior of the eoach; and I was aroused from my reflections to make room for the new-comers. To my surprise one of the ladies was none other than Mary Glentworth; and she gave vent to an ejaculation of joy on beholding me. I shook hands warmly with her ; and it was with equal cordiality that she returned the pres- sure, “ Allow me to introduces you to my dear CORNICLOOKS "fon