Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

ee SS — - ————— — ae — 168 cion, and account for my lingering in the shop, I proceeded to purchase another little article. While settling for this, I began speaking of the theatre ; and still as if casually, I inquired if he ever went thither? He replied that he did occasionally ; and he spoke of you, dear Miss, in terms of the highest eulogy. I asked him if he admired Miss Harrison asa dancer? I named one or two others who are favourites in the ballet; and then I mentioned Mademoiselle Angeline. I do not know whether it were mere fancy on my part—I really cannot tell—but it struck me that he glanced singularly up at my countenance for a moment; and then he said in the same quiet way as before, that be had seen Mademoiselle Angeline once at the theatre, but that he was no admirer of the ballet. I dared say no more: I was afraid of exciting suspicion, in case he knew of circumstances which he was pur- posely suppressing,—and [I left the shop.” “This is strange!’ T observed. “ But you are sure that you went to the right address ?” ‘As sure as that I am here,” responded Beda. * But I have not quite told you all. I was deter- mined not to be defeated if there were possibly a means of gaining my point. I accordingly stopped at a book-stall a few doors off; and while pur- chasing a volume, I got into conversation with an old woman who keeps the shop, while the boy was serving me. I guardedly asked such questions which elicited information perfectly corroborative of what the old jeweller had told me. She said that her neighbour had lived there for upwards of twenty years, and that he had no lodgers, his family and his workmen only occupying the house. I said, as if quite conversationally, that I supposed as he sold a great many nice trinkets, and as it was near the great theatres—moreover as a number of the inferior actors and actresses and ballet-dancers lived in the vicinage—he experienced a good cus- tom on their part? The old woman laughed at what she thought was my ingenuousness ; and shaking her head, she observed that if the old jew- eller placed much reliance on such custom, he might shut up his shop to-morrow. I took my leave of the old woman; and was proceeding along the street, wondering what I could do next, when I met a policeman. [I slipped half-a-crown into his hand, and told him I wanted to ask a ques- tion of quite a secret character—but I had a par- ticular motive—and that indeed I was employed by a gentleman for the matter which I had in hand. The constable was civil, and the touch of the coin was evidently by no means disagreeable. He bade me speak. I asked him if he knew Mademoiselle Angeline by sight? He replied that he ought to do, for he was fre- quently on duty inside the theatre where she danced. I then asked if he knew where she lived? He responded in the negative. I said that I thought it was somewhere in Long Acre; and after a little reflection he observed that now I mentioned it, he remembered to have met her occasionally in the day-time in that street, but he did nut know whether she lived there. I asked if he knew any particular shop which she was in the habit of frequenting ?-—and he again replied in the negative. Then he ejaculated, ‘ Stop ! now I think of it, I have seen her go two or three times to the old jeweller’s on the other side of the way : but it could only be for some little article of pur- _---—- ---——-—- ot -_ ce eee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. chase.’ —This was all I could glean from the con- stable ; and this is all, dear Miss, that for the pre- sent I am enabled to report to you.” I commended Beda for the tact and ability which she had displayed in conducting the in- quiries ; but [ was considerably bewildered by the result. Could Angeline have given so completely a fictitious address to Mr. Richards that not even any letter or message sent to the jeweller’s would be.received on her behalf? I knew not how to act: but at length I made up my mind to question Mr. Richards further on the morrow, and ascer- tain from him whether he had ever had occasion to send a note or message to the address which Angeline had given him. Accordingly, on the following day, I went to the theatre; and I said to the lessee, “ Are you sure that you gave me the right address?—for Miss Churchill does not lodge there.” He referred to his book: he showed me the entry—and it was correct. “She is here now,” he said; “and I will go and ask her r ‘That is precisely,” I interrupted him, “ what Ido not wish you to do! If there be so much mystery connected with her abode, it would be in- discreet for me to attempt to fathom it. But perhaps you can recollect 4 “Ah! now I remember,” ejaculated Mr. Rich- ards, “she did request at the time that if ever I had apy communication, it should be sent in writing, and not by a verbal message: but to the best of my knowledge there has never been any need to send any communication at all, for she has been most regular in her attendance both at rehearsal and performance. But I tell you what we will do! We will presently put the matter to the test. Can you return a little after three o’clock, Miss Trafford ?—or shall I te!l you the re- sult in the evening ?” “Oh! you-may tell me the result in the even ing,” I responded ; for I did not wish to seem too anxious on the point. I went away ; and in the evening I proceeded to the theatre a few minutes earlier than usual. “The test has answered,” said Mr. Richards. “The bills containing the new ballet were brought in to me between three and four o’clock: I sealed @ copy in an envelope—addressed it to Made. moiselie Angeline—and despatched it by a mes- senger to the jeweller’s. The jeweller received it, saying it was all right; and the messenger re- turned. Now I have satisfied your curiosity,” added Mr. Richards, with a smile; “and you will perhaps tell me why you yourself are observing so much mystery—and why you cannot express to Miss Churchill at once your wish to call upon her P” “ Because,” I replied, “the mystery which she herself observes, forbids such an overture. I beg you therefore to keep silent in reference to all these proceedings.” “T see!” said Mr. Richards: “there is a pro- per pride on both sides!—the pride of the ballet- dancer who conceals her lodging because it is humble—and the pride of the great tragedian who does not think it becoming on her part to go point blank at the matter and demand the address of the mysterious abode.” I only smiled, and left Mr. Richards to his own OOK C _— — (E@)