Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

ma) 176 Se ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. at such a moment: but I at once said in a low hurried voice to Beatrice, “ Go and receive Signor Marano in another room. I wish tosay a word or two alone to this old woman !” “Where is Signor Marano ?” inquired Beatrice of the footman. “Thinking that your ladyship might be en- gaged, I showed him into the dining-room,” was the answer. “TJ will proceed thither,” said Beatrice: and she accordingly issued from the apartment. I was now alone with Dame Betty; and as 1 turned somewhat abruptly towards her, I perceived that she trembled and quailed slightly, at the same time fixing upon me a half searching, half mis- trustful look. “What do you mean by this, Miss Percy ?” she asked: “ why have you just manceuvred to be | alone with me? I suppose there is no trea- chery “ | “Treachery P” I quickly ejaculated. word applied to me /” “Well, well, Miss—I didn’t mean to offend you,” interposed the hag, “ but I hope it is all fair and straightforward, and that you haven’t forgot the promise made to me by poor old Gilderoy, and | which you just now renewed P” “ Be not afraid,” I said. “ [hold myself bound | to respect Gilderoy’s promise, even though it was | made on my behalf entirely without my con- sent.” “Of course you would not harm me,” continued the dame ; “for I gave the evidence that night in | Gilderoy’s presence—and Parks refunded you your | fortune; so that it was with some little astonish- | ment I learnt you were still upon the stage, when | I arrived in London this afternoon.” * Such a | * Miss Perey—these walls may have ears!” said the dame quickly. **Yes—you have prepared poisons,” I con- tinued, heedless of the interruption, “ to a fearful effect !” “Ob, my dear young lady—pray, pray be cautious !”—and the hag looked frightened. “ Speak in a low tone—and don’t tell me—no— —pray don’t tell me—that—that 4 “Could you suppose, woman,” I demanded, “ that the white rose should never be scented by any nostrils save those of an enemy P” “ What!” gasped the wretched hag, staggering as if smitten a blow. ‘ You do not mean—you do not mean,” she repeated, becoming more and more aghast as her horrible suspicions were strength- ening into a conviction,—“ you do not mean “4 “Yes! I mean that your grand-daughter com- mitted suicide—that her husband was the accom: plico—and that immediately after her death, the maid who entered the chamber found the white rose upon the bosom of her mistress !” The dame stared at me with eyes so full of horror that by her looks she seemed as if she were going insane. It appeared as if she must burst forth into some violent outpouring of rage or grief, | or of both blended: but then all in an instant a calmness tbat was terribly sombre, seemed to take possession of her; and she said in a low hollow tone, “This is retribution! But there shall not the less be vengeance !—yes, vengeance on St. Clair !—for perhaps he was more than a mere ac- complice in a case of suicide !—far more probable is it that he was a downright murderer!” “ No—he was but an accomplice,” I replied. “ But what do you purpose to do?” “Denounce St, Clair to the authorities of “That fortune I never received. You know | justice!” replied the hag. that night ‘And poor Gilderoy perished,” ejaculated Dame Betty. ‘He used me harshly enough on that occasion ; but still I respected him as a gipsy-chief | —and I have since mourned his loss. But you say that you did not receive your fortune ?” “T did not,” was my response. “ Alas! I fear there was the same) >»? a conflagration ' i } “ And he,” I said, “ will at once turn round and accuse you as the compounder of the poison with which the white rose was imbued.” “Tet him do it,” answered Dame Betty with a sombre tone and look. “I care not! I have lived long enough! But even if I still clung to life, yet would I have vengeance upon that man!’ ‘* Remember,” I said, “ that you have made up that Mr. Moss, the clerk, who acted so friendly a | your mind to set the first spark to a train of fear- part, perished in the conflagration: but whether ful magnitude, and which will cause a tremendou- Mr. Parks himself likewise perished, or whether he | escaped = _ “Then all is mystery !” said the dame; “and during the five months which have elapsed since | that date, I have been moping on the Continent, so | that I literally know nothing, and am unable to) give you the slightest particle of information! I would if I could. I have no longer any enmity against you—for I know that poor Zarah loved you—and besides I was always the tool of others in anything that I did——” | “I know it but too well,” I interrupted the | dame. ‘ And now let us change the topic: let us divert our attention from the affairs which concern | me, to those which concern you.” “ Me? Well, yes—to be sure!” said the har- ridan. “Poor Zarah’s death e | “ Ab, woman!” I ejaculated, “if you had even | the most ordinary sensitiveness of feeling, you | would now sink down overpowered by the intelli- | gence which I have to communicate. Oh, you have prepared poisons x 1 explosion. That you will be involved in the com- mon ruin, there can be no doubt. I do not speak from any feeling of sympathy—because sympathy in this case I can have none! But I give you warning, because you may not at the present mo- ment foresee the consequences and as it is for the sake of avenging poor Zarah that you are about to act ¢ “TI care not for the consequences!” ejaculated the dame vehemently. “Then I assuredly can have no interest in stay- ing or checking you,” I said. “ It is quite clear that events of fearful import are about to ensue.” “ Yes!—and if the flame spreads,” said Dame Betty, “there will be a terrific crash, and more than one person will go down to destruction! Ab! ha! it will be an exciting spectacle; and you cau look on in safety and behold it!” With these words Dame Betty turned abruptly towards the door. I did not detain her—I had not another word to say—and she went forth from my presence. — ee —————— —_—— ll ea NOOLKS (E(O)