Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

a —- nee re E.On SS ee —_—"_———_—-_ Ce 268 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTERESS. thing haretentoll with your visit thither Ghich ha. ‘fascinating creature who a few a ores back had mands secrecy, or at least forbids exposure. You | stood there. see therefore that I am already in possession of, I retreated three or four steps; for the idea something which is almost as good as a guarantee | struck me that she might have a white rose about that even of your own accord you would be in- | her person, as | knew that there was more than clined to place the seal of silence upon your lips. one in the world ; and for that fleeting moment Therefore it is really a mere trifling matter of indeed I was surprised at my own audacity i in form for you to give the pledge which I have just , flinging the terrible name of murderess at her. now demanded.” “Now listen to me, Ellen Percy,” she said, I at once saw how impolitic if would be on my | speaking in a low voice, but the accents of which part toallow Lady Lilla Essendine to suppose that | denoted a deep concentrated rage. “ You have there was really something so very secret and im- | alluded to an occasion nearly two years ago, at tho portant in my visits to Kelvedon Hall, and that | house of your friends the Normans in Hunter therefore she had really gained a certain advan- | Street. Do you not remember what on that oc- a a ee et eee tage over me by the shrewdness of a guess. accordingly said with an air of indifference, “ Your ladyship is mistaken. for what purpose I sought Kelvedon Hall; and without incurring the imputation of arrogance or vanity, I may add that I am not accustomed to do anything which I should blush to have known.” “Oh! but persons may have motives for doing good actions in secret,’ ejaculated Lady Lilla, with a look that showed me she was not my dupe in respect to the indifference with which I had affected to treat the allusion to Kelvedon Hall. “However, on that score I need say nothing far- ther. I leave it to yourself to weigh in your own mind whether you think fit to give me the pledge I have demanded as the price of your liberty at the expiration of an hour; or i “Yes—speak the alternative,” I said, perceiy- ing that she hesitated. “Or else you will remain here for some two or three days longer,” continued Lady Lilla,—* in- deed until there be time for me to write a letter from Calais or Boulogne, to order my myrmidons to set you at liberty. You see, therefore, there is no disguise in my intentions; and I really leave you, my dear Miss Percy, the arbitress of your own fate,” “And you,” I said, feeling the indignant blood boiling within me, “have dared to treat me in this outrageous manner!—to make me pass the night in this vile place!—youw who ought to go down upon your knees before me and thank heaven that no accusing voice was raised against you when nearly two years back, in the drawing- room at the Normans’ house in Hunter Street, you meant to lay me dead at your feet! But heaven preserved me then, as it had watched over me before, and as it will continue to watch over me still! Gothen! You shall obtain no pledge from my lips. And now address me not in another syllable.” “Insensate that you are, Ellen!” ejaculated Lady Lilla Essendine, now losing her selt-posses- sion and suddenly displaying all the evidences of the fierce rage that had been excited within her. “Know you not that you are in my power? One word from my lips will seal your doom!” “And one word from my lips,” I responded, “will render you all ghastly and quivering with terror: for I tell you that you are a murderess!” “'Wretch!” ejaculated Lady Lilla Essendine: and she did indeed become ghastly, and she was indeed quivering from head to foot,—her whole ap- pearance being so changed that it seemed an im- possibility to believe she was the same lovely and I | casion I told you P—that not to be my friend was to be my enemy! This was no idle saying—nor The whole world may Know | did it imply a futile menace on my part, as I may yet teach you to your cost! Keep to your hosti- lity if you will—proclaim it openly if you think fit, instead of contenting yourself with pursuing it stealthily! I will show you whether you would gain much by such a course. Now I leave you. You are too independent to give a pledge; Tam too independent to demand it again from your lips.” “Ah! is it so?” I ejaculated : and the next in- stant my hands were at the throat of Lady Lilla EKssendine. So sudden and so powerful was my attack, that she was completely overpowered in the twinkling of an eye; and she fell upon the floor. “ Let her go, Miss Percy !—don’t be a fool !” ejaculated Dame Betty. “ Those ruffians will come up and murder us !” “ Be quiet, dame!’’ I said, in a most peremptory manner. “ Listen!” And we did both listen, while my hands were still upon Lady Lilla’s throat,—my looks showing such stern determination that she evidently thought I should strangle her outright at the first indication of an attempt to cry or to resist. For several moments we listened; and still all was silent. “Now,” I said, “you see, Lady Lilla, that thus far the victory is my own, and the momentary conflict has not reached the ears. of your myrmi- dons. Answer me!—for you see that Iam des- perate, inasmuch as my position was rendered desperate by your menaces. Tell me in what part of the building is the young man confined, who was captured by your ruffians in the middle of the night? Beware how you deceive me ; for I must inform you that this is not the first time I have been a prisoner in these ruins, and I am familiar with their situations and details.” “That young man,” said Lady Lilla, who was just enabled to speak ina whisper as I loosened to the slightest degree the gripe which I had upon her throat,—“ that young man is a certain William Lardner tt “ Yes, yes—I know it!” I ejaculated: “ he was a sailor on board the yacht where you used to meet Edwin St. Clair and plot your horrible schetnes for my destruction. I demand to know where he is now confined: for doubtless these ruffians told you on your arrival ?” “They have him down below,” replied Lady Lilla: “he is along with themselves.” “ Now, dame,” I said, hastily addressing myself to the old woman, “ go boldly down stairs—say aconniclowra< ~~ A Tes st theses ste ————————— —— ee (E@)