Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

> ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 271 for I caught a glimpse of your countenance in a cab.” “Yes : and I saw you likewise,” rejoined Lady Lilla. ‘And now perhaps it may be as well for me to tell you, Dame Betty, that notwithstanding the paper which you have signed, has passed out of my possession-~though you still retain the bank-note for a thousand pounds * “ Yes, yes—and I mean to keep it!” cried the dame, querulously, as she placed her band upon her pocket: “for I signed the paper—and it is not my fault if you have not still got it. Besides it is a part of the present conditions that I keep the bank-note—is it not, Miss Percy ? is it not?” I made no answer; and Lady Lilla Essendine at once said, “ Yes, keep it, dame—keep it ; and let there be peace between us. But I was about to observe that in reference to the trial of this morning, such a host of witnesses are now gather- ing—yes, at this very moment—to serve the eause of Edwin St. Clair,—such immense exertions have been made—and so many influential friends induced to come forward to speak to his high cha- racter,—while so many damnatory circumstances are ready to be adduced against yourself, that even if this stratagem to keep you away had failed, and even if now by some magical process you could transport yourself into the witness-box of the court, the chances are ten to one that you would experience the most signal failure. I have nothing more to say; and [ am ready to fulfil my part of the compact by emancipating you both.” On my side I had no inclination to hear any more even if there were more to tell; and I had nothing more to ask. I therefore put on my bonnet and shawl: the dame enveloped herself in her cloak—and we prepared to take our departure. I had little fear that Lady Lilla would develop any fresh phase of treachery; for all the odds were now so tremendously against her. Nor was I deceived; for as we descended the stairs, she cried from the summit, “It is all settled—and you can suffer them to depart.” | The three men were smoking in the lower room; they took but little notice of us; and we issued forth from amidst the ruined farm-buildings. As the reader may suppose, I was considerably re- joiced to breathe once more the fresh air of free- dom; but I felt wearied and indisposed by the long restless night which I had passed and the: anxiety of mind I had suffered. Indeed I longed to reach the hotel at Petersfield, not merely to assure William Lardner of my safety, but likewise that I might obtain those refreshments which were sO necessary. For upwards of five minutes Dame Betty and I walked together without a word being exchanged between us; we were both absorbed in our own thoughts. At length I said, “What was the nature of the paper you signed ?” “T have no more idea, Miss, than you yourself can possibly have,” replied the woman. “ Ah! I understand,” I exclaimed: “ you saw the bank-note, and that was sufficient for you ?” She chuckled and placed her hand upon her pocket,—the horrid laugh and the movement con- Stituting her only reply. * And thus,” I could not help observing, “ after all your terrible hatred against Edwin St. Clair —after all your cravines for vengeance—after your almost sanguinary thirst for the very blood of that man—you suffered yourself to be bribed in a single moment !” “Ah, my dear Miss, when you have lived ag long as I have in the world,” interjected the crone, “you will know how to make the best of a bad job. Why should I refuse a thousand pounds in my old age?” I could not help thinking that she would per- haps have sold even Zarah for half the sum—or that she would now sell me in Lady Kelvedon’s ease, if Mr. Collingwood were to offer her a trifle more than the five hundred pounds which I had promised. As I have said on a former occasion, it was now my interest to conciliate the woman; and I therefore did not make any farther observa- tions in respect to the bribe she had received from Lady Lilla Essendine. “‘ What do you propose to do?” I inquired. “IT have now nothing to do,” she answered, “but to attend to your business. Perhaps, my dear young lady, I may procure at Petersfield the drug which I require.” “ Tf so,” I ejaculated, “ it willbe all the better ; for now it is quite clear that you have no particu- lar need to hasten to London.” “ We will separate, Miss,” responded Dame Betty, “as soon as we reach the outskirts of the town: and if in about three hours you send Wil- liam Lardner to a certain public-house ’’—here she named it—“ I will either give him the drug, or else I will let him know that I have failed to procure it—in which case I will make soma other arrangement.” * And remember that in a week you are to see Lady Kelvedon again,” I said. “This day week, at six o’clock in the evening punctually, I will be in the shrubbery close to Kelvedon Hall. But you are going to the hotel in Petersfield. What about your luggage?” “Ah! I forgot to speak upon the subject!” I exclaimed. “ But no matter! I shall doubtless recover my portmanteau when passing through the town to which the postilion belonged.” I and Dame Betty now separated ; and I en- tered the streets of Petersfield. I felt somewhat embarrassed at the idea of reaching the hotel on foot without any luggage,—not because I feared that I should be looked suspiciously upon in re- spect to the means of payment, but because I feared that the circumstance itself might expose my character to some animadversion. While I was reflecting on the point, I beheld William Lardner lounging about in the neighbourhood of the hotel: he at once caught sight of me, @nd hastened towards me. “Thank heavens, you are safe, Miss Percy!” he ejaculated. “Ob, how anxious I have been! In twenty minutes more, I should have gone to the Mayor ” * And now, William,” I said, “ it is unnecessary to make any exposure upon the subject. Follow me. We will presently find an opportunity of conversing upon the incidents that have just passed.” I proceeded to a shop where portmanteaus were sold, and purchased a small one. I then visited two or three other sheps, in order to procure toilet articles and other little necessaries for im- mediate use ; and at the best morcer’s in the town CORMICLOOOLK (SO)