Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

sate “Then how did you discover the dame’s abode?” I hastily inquired. ‘‘The humpbacked dwarf called yesterday after- noon,” responded Beda, “ about a couple of hours after you had left——” “Ah, indeed?” I ejaculated. ‘And he gave you the information P This was indeed most pro- vidential !” “ Yes—he happened to know where Dame Betty might be found,” replied Beda. “ Your surmise was perfectly correct—the dame is waiting in London for the trial of Edwin St. Clair——” “And the dwarf?” I interjected, with some degree of anxiety: “did he hint at the nature of the business which led him to seek an interview with me P” “ Yes,” rejoined Beda: “but it is now of little consequence or import. It happened that a few days ago he was in the neighbourhood of the York Road—-—I should observe, by the bye, that it was between ten and eleven o’clock at night—-—when to his ineffable astonishment he recognised Mr. Parks, carefully muffled up though he was. The humpback had all along fancied that the lawyer had perished in the conflagration; and therefore he was smitten with amazement: but he neither accosted Parks, nor suffered him to perceive that he was thus recognised. But the dwarf imagined that the information might be useful to you, dear Miss ; and therefore he called for the purpose of giving it. I thought it better to tell him that you were already acquainted with the fact, but that you had quite done with Mr. Parks, and that he had become an object of indifference to you.” “That was right, Beda,” I interjected; “ for you thereby prevented she humpback from molest- ing or interfering with the wretched man. But did you reward him PY “I gave him two sovereigns,” answered Beda, “for his thoughtfulness in calling upon you in re- ference to Mr. Parks, and for affording me the in- formation in respect to where I could find Dame Betty. I told him that he might call again ina few days, when perbaps you would do something more for him. William Lardner and I went to Dame Betty’s lodging—we saw her—she was at first cold and reserved towards us, until I began to speak of Zarah, and reminded the dame that I had been her grand- daughter’s friend—that I had helped ber to escape from the madhouse—in short, that Zarah had loved me, ‘Then the crone melted ; and for the same reasons she began to speak well of you, dear Miss. You may conceive how rejoiced I was when I found her mood thus turning. I told her that you might possibly re- quire her services, for which you would most libe- rally remunerate her—and that as a kind of re- taining fee, I was authorized to place twenty guineas in her hand. | with the old gipsy-woman, ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRRESS, quest of Dame Betty; and during the hour which elapsed ere the arrival of the hag, I explained to Beda the circumstances of my visit into Hamp- shire, and the courso which I intended to adopt The faithful girl fully approved of my plan, as I sketched it forth ; and she declared her conviction that Dame Betty would fall into my views and bend herself to my purpose. The hag arrived—she was conducted into my presence. I made a sign for Beda to retire: I thought it better to be altogether alone with the dame. She wore an air of confidence and patron. ising familiarity: she had no further rancour against me—she knew that I was not purposing to do her any harm—she probably felt proud at finding that her services were at length necessary even unto me—and she was assuredly rejoiced at the prospect of reaping a golden harvest according to the promise held out to her by Beda, Ishould add that she was dressed just in the same style— that is to say, like a respectable tradeswoman—as when I had seen her about two months back, on the occasion of her abruptly breaking inupon my interview with Beatrice di Carboni. “Sit down,” I said, adopting a tone and man- ner which were calculated to repel any imperti- nent familiarity, and yet at the same time to sus- tain within her a feeling of confidence in my good faith with respect to the present transaction. “TI am desirous of speaking to you on a subject most grave, serious, and important. re “Proceed, my dear,” answered the dame. “Through your intelligent deputy you have sent me some gold and offered me more. I will do everything for gold except abandon my purposes of revenge against Hdwin St. Clair;—and thaé I know,” she added, with a grim smile, “is a sacrifice which you are about the last person in the world to ask me to make.” “Tt was not my intention to make the slightest allusion,” I said, “to that wretched man, unless you yourself had ‘spoken of him. “I wish to con- centrate your attention on one subject only; and I beg that you will answer me as succinctly as pos- sible—that you will avoid all unnecessary digres- sions—and that you will likewise bear in mind that your reward is to be proportionate to the truthfulness, the despatch, and the efficacy with which you may be enabled to serve me.’ “An excellent preface, my dear,” said the dame; “and every point shall be borne 1 in mind. Proeed: I am entirely at your service.’ “ Between eight and nine months ago,” I re- sumed, ‘‘ you sold ninety poisoned lozenges for the sum of fifty sovereigns to a person of the name of Collingwood.” * True,’ answered the dame. “You knew it Everything has thustermi- | at the time—you overheard my discourse with nated satisfactorily ; and Dame Betty is entirely at | Collingwood—I told him so—and then he exacted your disposal. If you wish to see her, William | the oath from you and Beda Lardner happens to be here at the moment,” | added Beda, with a sight blush upon her beautiful | rejoined. > * Which oath we do not intend to violate,” I “ But listen to me! For the last six face: “ anc he shall at once hasten and fetch her. | weeks Lady Kelvedon—the young wife of the old In an hour she shall be here.” lord who is Mr. Collingwood’s uncle—has been “ By all means let him hasten away!” I ex- | suffering with all the symptoms which you your: claimed; “ for I can assure you, Beda, that it is | self detailed on that very same occasion to Mr. indeed a matter of life and death with the unfor- | Collingwood.” tunate Lady Kelvedon !” “ Well then,” said the dame, “ perhaps he is William Lardner was accordingly despatched iu | administering the lozenges.” Eomicbook