Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

———— 182 the evening with Beda. When I was alone, I reviewed all that I had just heard from William’s lips; and I thought to myself, “ St. Clair endea- voured to carry off the matter with a cool indiffer- ence in the presence of his servants when once they began speaking of the intervention of the police. But at this moment he must be a prey to the most poignant terrors! Doubtless he suspects only too well who the old gipsy crone was; and perhaps he is wondering why she turns against him. In what horribie uncertainty must his mind be plunged !—how he must be racking his imagi- nation with wild bewildering conjectures in refer- ence to the use that Dame Betty can mean to make of the rosewood box and its contents! But will he remain in England ? or will he fly P ~ Will he admit to himself that the web is closing in around him P or will he still remain in the in- fatuated belief that the favourable stars of his des- tiny can never cease to shineP Ah! not for all the treasures of the earth would I endure the mental excruciations which at this moment that wretched man must be suffering !” I was still pursuing the same course of medita- tions, when I retired to rest. I awoke at an early hour in the morning; and when Beda made her appearance to assist in my toilet, 1 said to her, “TI entertain a presentiment that the day will not pass without some event of signal importance in reference to Edwin St. Clair.” “In was an evil moment for him,” remarked Beda, “ when Dame Betty turned round upon him. She is horribly vindictive !—and in the pursuit of her vengeance she would even sacrifice her own safety—or at least boldly disregarc it.” * But still IT am at a loss to conceive how she will acé in the present instance,” I observed, “and what course she purposes to adopt: for as Luigi is is to undergo no trial, there can be no investigation into the causes of the late Mrs. St. Clair’s death.” It would be however a mere waste of time for me to place on record all the ideas which passed through my imagination after I had risen in the morning of that memorable day. I was full of suspense in reference to what might occur at the Old Bailey; and I will confess that I longed to be present in the court and contemplate the proceed. ings. But inasmuch as I am by no means de- sirous that the reader should be kept similarly in suspense, I will hasten to pursue the thread of my narrative. I remained at home, expecting that from some source or another I should receive tidings of whatsoever was passing, and indeed I had reason to suppose that William Lardner intended to be a spectator of the proceedings in the Central Crimi- nal Court. The time-piece upon the mantel in the drawing-room was just proclaiming the hour of noon, when I heard footsteps come rushing up the staircase—the door of the apartment was literally burst open—and William made his appearance, exclaiming, “Ah, what a scene, Miss! what a scene! He is in custody !” “Whor whoP”’ I demanded: “ who is in cus- tody P” “ Mr. St. Clair!” was the answer. At the same moment a carriage drove rapidly up to the front door of the house: I hastened to the window—and I beheld the Countess of Car- boni alighting. It instantaneously struck me that A ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. she had been present at the proceedings at the Old Bailey,—though on the last occasion when I saw her she had not dropped the slightest hint that such was her intention. * And you say that Mr. St. Clair is arrested P” I exclaimed in an excited tone, as I again turned towards William Lardner. * Yes, Miss!—and he has been carried off to the police-office to be examined before the magis- trate! And old Dame Betty has gone as his ac- cuser—and there is Hmma—and poor Mrs. St. Clair’s maid rs | “Then hasten you, William, to the police. office,’ I said: “learn the result—and bring the tidings hither. Ab! I had almost forgotten to ask about Luigi P” * Condemned to death, Miss.” “Yes — condemned to death!” repeated the voice of Beatrice, who at this moment entered the room. “ And you were there, doubtless?” I exclaimed to my friend, who thus made her appearance as William Lardner was departing to execute the commission with which I had charged him. “ Yes—I was in the Central Criminal Court,” replied Beatrice. ‘“ And, Ob, what ascene! But doubtless you have already learnt He “ Yes—that St. Clair is arrested,” I said. * Arrested as the murderer of his wife,” ejacu- lated Beatrice,—“ or else as the accomplice in her suicide. You cannot conceive, my dear Hllen, the astonishment and dismay—the wonder and excitement In short, I never beheld such @ scene !” “Tt must have been most startling!” I ex- claimed. ‘“ Butdo tell me, Beatrice x “Then, you are as yet acquainted with no par- ticulars?” said the Countess of Carboni. “With none,” I replied. “I had just learnt that St. Clair was arrested when your carriage drove up to the door. And now tell me what took place.” “TJ must enter somewhat into details,” said the Countess of Carboni. “It was uot until last even- ing that I even thought of being present in the Central Criminal Court to-day i “ And perhaps,” I interjected, “ Signor Ludovico Marano suggested the idea P”’ “Yes, he did, Ellen—and it is useless to deny it. Besides,” added Beatrice, with a certain dis- play of dignified independence, “why should I not follow the bent of my own inclination P” “You have a perfect right, my dear Beatrice,” I responded. “ Well, last evening you formed the idea 3 “But I did not make up my mind,” resumed the Countess, “until this morning, when Signor Marano called again—und though my sister and brother-in-law somewhat objected id “Yet you went, Beatrice,” I said, somewhat impatient for the forthcoming narrative. “Yes—I went under the escort of Signor Marano. To tell you the truth, Ellen—and I do not think you will altogether hate me for the con- fession—I longed to hear the death-sentence pro- nounced upon the wretch whose iniquities had caused the death of Angelo Marano. But I see you are impatient! Well, then, I accompanied Ludovico:—we found a great number*of persons collected in the narrow thoroughfare of the Old COLA Gboo (E)