Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

eee ea pec agree enter ee SS EP TO ee 24.6 small common wooden box, about four inches long, two wide, and an inch anda half deep, It had a sliding lid: and when this was opened, it revealed a number of little packages in different coloured papers. * Are we sure to be free from interruption ?” inquired the dame, glancing around. “Yes,” responded Hermione: “I locked the door of the boudoir while Miss Perey came to fetch you.” “And now I require,” continued the gipsy- woman, “a bottle or decanter, some water, and a tea-spoon.” Hermione intimated that I should find the things that were needed in her dressing-room: I hastened to procure them, and returned to the boudoir. The dame took a little pair of scales from the bottom of the box, together with some diminutive weights such as are used by chemists and druggists; and she accurately measured four distinct powders, which she put into the decanter. This she filled up with water, and shook if for several minutes. Then she placed the decunter on the table: the water was all clouded, and it occupied nearly five minutes for the powders to become completely dissolved, so that at length the water was of pellucid clearness as before, and there was not even so much as the slightest sedi- ment at the bottom. “Two wine-glasses,’ said the dame. These were quickly forthcoming; and the woman filled one of the glasses. She slowly drank off its contents ; and this [ considered to be not so much an essay on her part as to whether the mixture was properly made, as it was meant to be a studied proof that she was veritably and truly adminis- tering an antidote, and therefore something per- fectly innocuous so far as she herself was concerned. Then she filled the second glass: and this she handed to Lady Kelvedon. Under any other cir- cumstances, Hermione, rendered fastidious by illness, would doubtless have shrunk in loathing from the shrivelled dirty hand that was stretched out to her; but now she greedily accepted the proffered draught, which she at once swallowed. “ Tt is almost tasteless,” she said, as I received the glass from her hand. * And now, my lady,’ said the crone, “you have taken the first step towards recovery. To- morrow morning, an hour before breakfast, you must take another glass; and lkewise to-morrow afternuon before your dinner. At what hour do you dine?” ** At four,” was the answer. ** Then take the dose at three,” rejoined the dame, ‘T must return and see you to-morrow eyening— that is to say, if I can possibly get back to Lon- don to-morrow night, or any time before the dawn of the next day; for I have urgent business in the metropolis.” I knew to what she alluded: it was the trial of Edwin St. Clair which was fixed for the next day but one. “You shall have my postchaise,” I said. “ Rest assured, therefore, that immediately after you have seen Lady Kelvedon to-morrow evening, arrangements shall be made for your departure.” “ Enough, Miss Percy!” ejaculated the crone: *‘ that is all I require.” * But to-night where will you sleep?” asked ? ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. Lady Kelvedon, uneasily. ‘ Had I not better take his lordship into our confidence P” “* No—not for the world!” cried Dame Betty. **The secret is between ourselves Miss Percy knows it must be so!”—then, as I made a sign of assent, she went on to say, “Trouble not your- self, my lady, on my account. I know an ale- house on the road about a mile and a balf hence; I do not care for a little walk—the evening is beautiful—it is a full moon—and the stars are shining.” : I now proceeded to conduct Dame Betty out of the mansion, by the same avenues through which I had introduced her. But when we reached the bath-room, I stopped short, caught her by the arm, and said impressively, “Tell me, L conjure you! have you spoken truthfully ?—will she be saved P”’ “ T swear it,’ answered the dame: “ but the case is indeed a serious one—and two or three days later it would have been goo late! She must have a vigorous constitution. ‘The poison has been at work for at least two months is * Oh, if I could but discover the miscreant who is administering it !” I ejaculated. “ What P to give him or her up to justice ?” re- turned the dame quickly; “and thus perhaps bring about a total exposure ?” “No,” I answered; “my promise has been solemnly given to the contrary. But you see the influence which I exercise over Lady Kelvedon; and it would not therefore be very diffieult for me to procure the removal of so dangerous a@ person under some pretence or another.” “* Keep your eyes open, and watch!” returned the dame. We then issued from the mansion together ; and at the garden-gate I said to her, “ To-morrow evening, at six o'clock punctually, I will seek you in the shrubbery again. Arrangements shall then be made for your journey to London.” “ And perhaps you will have to accompany me,” rejoined Dame Betty. * Indeed?” I ejaculated. ‘‘ And why so?” * Because, I will tell you frankly, this case is even worse than I had anticipated from the de- scription you had previously given me. Nay, start not! Ihave no doubt as tothe result! I only tell you that it is a grave and serious matter. But I stake everything as to the success of my treat- ment! Keep back the reward if you will until the end. ‘There !—does that satisfy you ?” “ Perfectly,” I responded. ‘“ But why do you think that I shall be compelled to accompany you to London P” * Because there is a certain drug which I had not time to procure, and with which indeed L thought I should have been able to dispense. It has nothing to do with the antidote against the poison: that is already in the lady’s possession. But it is a restorative " Say not another word,” I interrupted her: “I understand you! —you wish me to become the me- dium of placing it in her ladyshbip’s hands—and you may command me. I will therefore hold my- self in readiness to accompany you, ii needful, to- morrow evening. But one word more! Is her ladyship suffering under the intluence of the poi- soned lozenges which you sold to Mr. Colling- wood ?” OOK (E@) (COMMU