Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 25: what you’re looking at

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| 12 the accident with the kerbstone was more or less liable to doubt, and that there was something in the whole business which remained to be probed and fathomed. But I could not tell Lord Frede- rick what ideas were thus floating in my mind: neither could I obtain any information from his lips to confirm those ideas. His tale, though ex- traordinary, was consistent, and might be strictly true. Remember, I say it might be strictly true! Still there was a little incident which somewhat strengthened my misgiving rs “ And that incident?” Iasked. “ Lord Frederick informed me that soon after the accident in London, he consulted an eminent physician. He showed me a prescription which that physician had given him; and I saw that it was for calming and soothing medicines. [I in- quired if the physician had not given an additional prescription—an ointment for instance, or any other application for the wounded forehead? For a moment Lord Frederick appeared to be thrown off his guard: but quickly recovering himself, he searched amongst certain papers in a writing-desk, and then told me that he had lost the other pre- scription. I repeat, Miss Percy, this little incident seemed suspicious; and yet it might on the other hand be strictly consistent with facts. Indeed, everything which emanated from Lord Frederick’s lips might have been the actual truth to the very letter; and as a medical man I was bound to report accordingly to Mr. Norman. This report was given with strict reference to the knowledge which I actually possessed ; and I carefully avoided suffering my report to be biassed by any misgivings, suspicions, or sinister ideas which might have been floating in my mind.” You could not possibly have acted more con- scientiously or honourably,” I observed. “ But you have now to tell me, Mr. Singleton, why you sought this interview with me?” «A few words will suffice to give the requisite information,” responded the surgeon. “Tf tell you that though bound by circumstances to make to Mr. Norman a report which to a certain degree was satisfactory, I was not satisfied in my own mind. I was like ajuror who having to judge only by the circumstances actually presented to him, finds him. self constrained to return a verdict favourable to the accused, though in his own mind there may be lingering suspicions and misgivings tending to suggest a very opposite decision. Such was my position as the medical juror in this case. But the matter was notto end there, I had undertaken to send medicine to the young nobleman: I was to treat him professionally: 1 therefore naturally wished to obtain as deep an insight as possible into the particulars of his case. I thought that if there were anything in the background—any secret, in short—his wife would be aequainted with it, and you, as her most intimate friend, would have been taken into herconfidence. Therefore I considered that there would be no harm in my having a little private conversation with you, Miss Percy, upon the point—though when I asked you to come hither, I little foresaw it would be for you to hear a tale which was so much to affect you, and which was so singularly destined to elucidate the mys- tery concerning Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe.” “And now, Mr. Singleton,” I said, “ what course will you adopt? Will you sufier the wife ELLEN PERCY; OB, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. of that unhappy young nobleman, as well as her father, to learn the tale of this deep branding in- famy ?” “ Heaven forbid, Miss Percy,” exclaimed the kind-hearted surgeon, “ that I should be the means of inflicting unnecessary pain !” *T expected nothing less than such an assurance from your lips. But carefully though Lord Frederick has endeavoured to conceal from his neighbours the fact that he wears a bandage about his head, yet servants will whisper and gossip— perhaps Mrs- Singleton already suspects from your brother’s narrative * “T can assure you she suspects nothing!” an- swered the surgeon; “for I looked at her counte- nance the very moment when the truth flashed to my knowledge. On my return from River House I mentioned nothing to her of what had there taken place : I never reveal professional secrets even to my wife. It is notas yet known in the neighbour- hood that Lord Frederick wears the black fillet; for when he has been seen riding out, he wears his hat so low down upon his head as to conceal the ribbon. My brother departs the day after to- morrow; and he is little likely to catch any float- ing gossip, evenif it were really current. At the same time, Miss Percy,” added Mr. Singleton, speaking seriously, ‘‘ I need not tell you as a young lady of sense, that it will be utterly impossible for the fact that Lord Frederick does wear that black band to be long concealed. It must ooze out sooner or later; my wife may hear of it—she may put two and two together, recollecting my bros ther’s story But this much I can promise, that she will maintain silence upon her lips!” *€ More than all this, Mr. Singleton,” I responded, “you can neither say nor do. But tell me, is it impossible—is it utterly, absolutely impossible that the mark of the brand can be removed from the brow of that wretched young nobleman?” “Utterly, absolutely impossible!” answered Mr. Singleton: “there is no surgical operation by which it can be accomplished.” “At all events,” I said, “you now know pre- cisely the sad particulars of the case with which you have to deal. Perhaps though you cannot help the physical disfigurement, you may possibly be enabled to minister to the diseased mind ?” “ Such shall be my study, Miss Perey,” rejoined the surgeon. I now rose to take my leave. I returned fora moment into the parlour to pay my farewell re- spects to Mrs. Singleton and the surgeon’s brother ; and I bent my way towards River House. On arriving there, I found that Mr. Norman had gone out again after luncheon; and on ascending to the drawing-room, I perceived Lord Frederick sleep- ing on the sofa, Juliet being seated near him with her arms thrown about his form. I wondered how he could be so incautious as thus to suffer repose to steal over him in the broad daylight, when the finger of curiosity might lift the black fillet from his brow; and I marvelled all the more on remembering the numerous precautions which he took at night-time to prevent the revelation of the Cain-brand in case that black fillet sb uld happen to come off in the midst of his slumbers. But Juliet whispered to me that sleep had now in- sensibly stolen over him, as on the previsus day it had done. EORNICLOOOLK< (E)