Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

et ee eet ne es = 316 CHAPTER LY. THE RESULT OF THE PLAN. I SHOULD here explain that the note which my father had written, to be sent in to Lord Frede- rick Ravenscliffe’s box, was to the effect that he desired an immediate interview with the young nobleman on the most urgent and important busi- ness regarding his lordship himself. If that note had been delivered, as originally intended—and if Lord Frederick had come forth to the entrance- hall whither it summoned him—my father would have informed him “that he was required to pro- ceed at once to Hunter Street to be confronted with Miss Percy in reference to Lord Tynedale’s cheque.” It was then my intention to have left the stage-box so soon as I should have seen Lord Frederick quit his own box; and then I should have taken a cab to convey me with all possible despatch to Hunter Street. But, as the reader has seen, Melissa’s warning missive had given a different turn to the proceedings—though it was now all the same to my father and myself, since we had Lord Frederick a captive in our power and the desired aim was thus far accomplished. I knew perfectly well that Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe must now speedily begin to suspect the degree of close aflinity which subsisted be- tween my father and myself. From his own father he had heard the history of the past career of mine: he was consequently aware that my parent’s nume was Percy—and now that he found us thus together, acting in concert, he could not fail to surmise that which might never before have struck him. But for all this I was fully prepared. Ino longer sought to hide the matter from the young nobleman; and I knew that so far as the world at large was concernsd, I had the means of insuring his secrecy. Indeed, I had purposely brought my father as an active agent into the present proceeding, in order that by his interference in a good cause he might atone for his former complicity in an evil one—and that this atonement should be known not merely to the young nobleman who had coerced my sire into his iniquitous service, but likewise to the Normans who had suffered so much through that deplorable complicity. ‘We had not been seated many moments in the cab, when I said to Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe, You must not imagine that he who accompanies me is any longer in your power; for he has ob- tained his pardon!” “'Yes—I know it,” said the young nobleman. “My father told me that he had been induced —for some reasons which he did not however explain — to intercede with the Home Secre- tary s “Then I will reveal to you that secret,” I in- terrupted him, “which your parents have eyvi- dently kept with the most scrupulous generosity, You know that my real name is Percy—that this is likewise the real name ¥ “Ah! I understand!” ejaculated Lord Frede- rick, in accents of astonishment. ‘I was already beginning to think, though confusedly and bewil- deringly ” “But imagine not,” I again interrupted him, ee ee rn eee -_—— SFL TE NTE tnt ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. manner avail you in the proceedings that are about to take place. A secret itis so far as the world generally is concerned—and a secret it shail remain. But——” “For heaven’s sake, Miss Percy,” cried Lord Frederick entreatingly, “tell me what you are going to doP I know that you have discovered everything——~” *'Yes—your guilty accomplice Melissa Harri- son,” I interjected, “has conveyed you a word of warning. I saw a note placed in your hand in the box. Oh! I was infinitely concerned for the sake of that young lady 2 “Good God! what must she think?” exclaimed Lord Frederick, in aecents of despair. “I feel as if I were going mad—there is a wildness in my brain But I will die, Miss Percy, sooner than endure exposure in respect to what has come to your knowledge! My father and mother would break their hearts!—my elder brother, who is honour personified, would scorn and despise me! In a word-——~” “T will give you no explanations here,” I in- terrupted him. “But as I feel interested in the unfortunate young lady whom you have doubtless led to believe that you love, and who [ fear loves you deeply in return—I would fain know to what extent she has this night been shocked, horrified, and dismayed on your account. She saw the billet which Melissa sent to you—its contents produced a powerful effect upon her ry “Here is the billet,’ said Lord Frederick, taking it from his waistcoat-pocket and presenting it to me: for he was now as submissive and humble, as docile and as tractable as ever he had been haughty and cruel, remorseless and supercilious. By the aid of the gas-lights in the shops by which we were passing, I read the few words which Melissa had penned in the billet, and which were as follow :— “ Ellen has discovered everything—and she ig meditating some mischief against you. FEly!— lose not a moment in departing for the Continent! I will join you at Calais.” No name was appended to this billet; and as it was written very hurriedly and with a wretched pen, it would have been impossible for any one unacquainted with the circumstances, to decide whether it was scribbled by a male or female hand. Thus Miss Gower could have had no cer- tainty on that point ; and it was no doubt one of the details which Lord Frederick had been endea- vouring to reason upon and explain away, when he was whispering so earnestly in the young lady’s ear. The cab soon reached Hunter Street; and it stopped at Mr. Norman’s house. The Normans were still at the theatre, where I knew that they would be detained for at least another hour ; and thus there was ample time to enter into explana- tions with Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe befora their return, My father alighted first; and I saw that he wags keeping a close watch upon the young nobleman as he followed next, so as to pre- vent him from suddenly taking to his heels. He did not however appear to have any intention of this kind: his energies were paralysed—he was __ ++ es CONNIEIOOKS (ECOAM