Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 323: what you’re looking at

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eee > LL 310 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. destined that the crime should be consummated ; and it was! The letter—the odious letter which I penned in your name—accepted the overture of the Marquis to a certain extent and on certain express conditions. You were made to say that you would not become his mistress, to be perma- nently pensioned by him—but that you would surrender yourself to his arms 3 “Good God!” I murmured, my frame literally writhing with torture as I listened to the hornble, shocking narrative. “ Ah! no wonder,” cried Melissa, “ that you are thus moved! But for heaven’s sake let me make an end of the narrative of that foul transaction. In the letter which I penned in your name, you were made to state that you would that same evening at ten o’clock visit his lordship at Tyne- dale Lodge—that you were to be admitted thither under all possible circumstances of secrecy—and that there were yet other conditions which you would subsequently have to enjoin. To that com- munication the Marquis was to send a reply ad- dressed to you under cover to a friend of your’s, as you did not wish to receive any secret corre- spondence at Mr. Norman’s house in Huster Street. Need I add that my own name and the address of this house were given as the alleged means of ensuring the privacy of your communi- cations with the Marquis? He lost no time in sending his answer,—which was anxiously awaited by Lord Frederick and myself. We opened it. Its language was that of rapturous joy and pas- sion: one might have thought that it had been penned by an ardent youth of less than half that nobleman’s age. It agreed to everything you might choose to stipulate—it proclaimed his readi- ness to obey your will in all things. Then the plot—that vile iniquitous plot—proceeded; and I —wretch that I was!—carried it out to the end. Deeply veiled—veiled so closely indeed that it was impossible for even the keenest eye to dis- cern my features through that thrice-folded veil —I presented myself at Tynedale Lodge. I was at once conducted to the Marquis, who re- ceived me in an apartment communicating with a chambers I murmured some words to the effect that not for worlds could I reveal my blushes and my confusion ; and he in his infatuation was ready to believe anything or everything. diately retired together—and I at once extin- guished the lights in the chamber,—-locking the door likewise, and securing the key. At a very early hour in the morning, before the faintest glimmer of daylight could penetrate between the well-closed curtains, I prepared to leave him. I then explained the conditions to which I had alluded in the letter as those yet remaining to be stipulated. I enjoined him never to accost me either in private or in public—never to come near me—never to write to me—never, if he visited the theatre, to fling a significant look upon me. But in order that he might adhere to these conditions, I skilfully interwove a hint that the faithful ob- servance of them constituted his only hope of meeting me again at some future period, when perhaps I might consent to become his mistress altogether. I was speaking as if if were you, Ellen, that was thus addressing him ;: I simulated your vuice to the best of my ability ; and in the depth of his infatuation he was completely de- We imme- | ceived. Then I abruptly left him ; and, again closely veiled, issued unobserved from the house.” All the latter portion of Melissa’s narrative had been broken by frequent self-upbraidings and vehemently ejaculated self-reproaches. But these I have omitted,—preferring to give the tale as continuous a flow as possible. I can scarcely de- scribe the feelings with which I listened to it,— my blood at one moment running like molten lead in my veins—then suddenly stagnating,—and my frame trembling and quivering and shivering, or else having a sensation as if I were writhing in the burning profundities of a yoleano. For it was fearful and shocking, hideous and horrifying, to listen to all those details of consummate villany, —a villany which made Melissa seem in my eyes a very demoness in female shape—a poisonous reptile clothed in so fair a skin! | CHAPTER LIV. THE PARTY AT THE THEATRE. YET if such were the feelings which I experienced —if such were my emotions and such my sensa- tions—it is but fair to admit that Melissa Harri- son displayed the utmost contrition and remorse for the foul atrocity of which she had been guilty. After an interval of silence—during which she sat before me, the image of wretchedness and despair —she suddenly burst forth into the most pas- sionate lamentations—the most vehement self- upbraidings. I had however at the moment so little commiseration for her—I held her in such deep disgust and in such strong abhorrence—that I should have suffered her to rave on, were it not that I was fearful the other inmates of the house would be alarmed. I accordingly bade her be silent, sit down, and listen to me. “You have perpetrated a wickedness,” I said, “which is without a parallel in the history of womankind. I can possibly understand, from all that I have heard, read, and seen passing around me, that a female may sacrifice her own reputa- tion in order to gratify some particular passion. But that she should deliberately, wilfully, and wantonly sacrifice the good name of another of her own sex, is an unheard of turpitude. You cannot wonder that I speak strongly: the wonder would be if I did not. But still, Melissa, I am not inclined to fly from my word. I promised to shield you from the wrath of Lord Tynedale to that extent which is compatible with the vindica- tion of my own outraged fame; and I will hold to my pledge. But you will at once answer me a few questions.” | Melissa had been weeping bitterly while I thus addressed her; and she now tremulously mur- mured, “Ask me what you will, Ellen—rest as- sured that I shall reply truthfully and frankly.” “TI presume,” I said, “that you perpetrated this infamous crime in order that the Marquis of Tynedale should Be satisfied by the way in which he had disposed of so large a sum of money ?” “Yegs—such was my motive,’ responded Melissa: ‘ such was the nature of the plot suggested by Lord Frederick and executed by myself.” CONnMNEDOOKS Com