Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 369: what you’re looking at

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356 el ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. depese to the identification of the deceased as her | following morning; and in the afternoon I was husband. Her nerves were strengthened by this | once again in Hunter Street. I will pass over all assurance ; and she proceeded to the inquest-room. | the explanations which I had to give in reference There she was not detained many minutes,—the Coroner and the jury considerately sparing her feelings as much as possible. It was nevertheless an infinite relief to her when the ordeal was past and we returned together to our own hotel. The jury returned a verdict of “ Wilful Murder ;” and Beatrice sent for an undertaker, to whom she gave full instructions in respect to the funeral. I again left her at the hotel for two or three hours, while I proceeded to call at River House. There I was most cordially welcomed by my friend Juliet; and her husband received me with an air of friendly frankness, as if he felt that he could now look me in the face with confidence as he knew that he was performing his duty towards his wife, and that Juliet herself would tell me the same when we should be alone together. They already knew that I must be at Dover from the report which had reached their ears in reference to the murder; and therefore Juliet had been anxiously expecting my presence. I gave them the full particulars of the horrible occurrence; and both expressed much sympathy on account of the agitation and excitement which I must have ex- perienced. When I found myself alone with Lady Frederick Ravenscliffe, she assured me that her husband continued to treat her with the utmost kindness—that he manifested no impatience at the secluded life they were leading—but on the con- trary, that he appeared to prefer it. He had re- ceived no answer from his parents, the Earl and Countess of Carshalton, to the letter which he had written informing them of his marriage; and he therefore supposed that it would be a work of time to obtain their forgiveness for the step which he had taken. Juliet further informed me that the solicitor whom the late Mrs. Oldcastle had nomi- nated joint executor with Mr. Norman, had gone up to London on the preceding day, to put the business in a train for prompt settlement, and that therefore the various legacies would be almost im- mediately paid. Having passed about three hours at River House, I took leave of Lord and Lady Frederick Ravenscliffe, and returned to the hotel at Dover. My engagements at the theatre required that I should leave on the following day: but I could not think of abandoning the Countess of Carboni at a time when her nerves had been so painfully acted upon. She however assured me that she had no doubt the Marquis of Campanella, and perhaps the Marchioness herself, would make all haste to join her at Dover under existing circum- stances; and she besought me not to disturb my own arrangements on her account, I said in reply that we would see what the morrow brought forth; and that I would shape my course accord- ingly. Be it recollected that a courier had been sent off in the morning to the Marquis of Cam- panella in London; and that messenger might reach the metropolis by the middle of the day. And he did so, as the event transpired; for at about eleven o’clock at night, just as Beatrice and I were separating to retire to our respective cham- bers, the Marquis and Marchioness of Campanella arrived at the hotel. I was therefore enabled to leave Dover on the b rE to the fearful tragedy; and I will proceed to re- late something which regarded my friend Mary Glentworth, and which will explain the plan that the Duchess of Ardleigh had decided upon adopt- ing in order to tranquillize Mary’s mind for a few mouths, until the return of her Grace from the Continent should enable her to give the matter her further consideration. When Mary and I had an opportunity of being alone together, she said, ‘‘ My dear Ellen, I have this day received a visit from my uncle’s solicitor.” “Indeed!” I ejaculated, anxious to learn what was to follow. “Yes,” continued Mary Glentworth; “here is his card—Mr. Wilkinson, of Furnival’s Inn. He told me that my uncle, on making inquiries con- cerning me, learnt that I had left River House in consequence of the death of Mrs. Oldcastle, and that I was now residing here. He went on to say that my uncle was suddenly compelled to leave England on pressing business, which might detain him for some months abroad; and that he had therefore sent me the sum of two hundred guineas to meet my expenses during his absence. But I told Mr. Wilkinson that I did not require the money, as Mrs. Oldcastle had left me a legacy of five hundred pounds, which I should very shortly receive. Mr. Wilkinson however insisted upon my taking the money which he offered me on my uncle’s account; and I have therefore done so, I asked the lawyer where my uncle’s house was situated P—but he told me that Mr. Glentworth had just given up the residence which he had oc- cupied somewhere at the West End of the town, and that on his return from the Continent I should be made acquainted with his new abode, wheresoever he might fix it. As for the money, I begged Mr. Norman to take care of it for me: but he bade me keep it until your return, as you would advise me how to lay it out. Oh! [Tam so glad, Ellen, that I have at length heard something relative to my uncle: for to tell you the truth, I was almost convinced in my own mind that there was a mystery ss * And now your mind is at ease, my dear Mary,” I said: but I thought within myeelf, “Poor girl! you must sooner or later learn the actual truth; and your sublime confidence in the purity of your deceased mother will be doomed to sustain a fearful shock !” However, I was glad that the evil day was postponed; and I could not help admiring the pian which the Duchess had adopted to effect this procrastination: for it was characterized alike by delicacy and generosity. I had no doubt that Mr. Wilkinson was the solicitor of the Ardleigh family, and that he had receiged explicit instructions how to act in the case. “ With regard to that money, my dear Ellen,” continued Mary, “I must insist upon Mr. Nor- man taking it—I cannot live here as @ mere guest ee “You are my guest for the present, Mary,” I said: “and the friendship which subsists between us, must impel you to consider yourself so. When you receive your legacy, you will have seven hun- ea pI aS A TE CORNICLMOOOKS Com