Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 353: what you’re looking at

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

——— 340 Ludovico vehemently. “Come! this is child’s play! Do you fancy,” he asked, with a scornful sneer upon his lips, “that the real ghost of this library will make its appearance to save you——”’ “ Ah!’ I cried, with a suaden start. “ Look behind you !” The Italian also started: he was galvanized with a panic terror; and turning his head quickly, he did look behind. Then I flew at him with all the strength and energy that I possessed :—with one hand I struck the pistol upward—with the other I at once clutched it. Marano fell back- . ward by the violence of the attack; and I tore the pistol from his grasp. At that very moment the door of the library opened—some one entered —and in the twinkling of an eye Beda came gliding upon the spot where this strange scene was taking place. “ Ah, this is indeed providential!” I exclaimed. Silence, Beda! The wretch is inour power! Do you know him? [tis Ludovico Marano! And you, signor,” I added, now touching his forehead with the muzzles of the pistol-barrels, “ dare to show any resistance, and you will see that I know how to follow up my victory !” The Italian’s eyes glared like those of a hyena as he lay upon his back on the carpet, and my knee rested upon his chest: his lips were ashy white—and as they quivered with the emotions of rage and disappointment and mortification which he experienced, the white teeth, closely set, gleamed betwixt them. “Beda,” I said, “go quickly and tell Mr. and Mrs. Tremaine what has happened. It is needless to alarm the household—they will act as they may think fit.” “My God, Miss Percy!” said Marano, “ pray do not take this step!’ “T shall take it, signor. Go, Beda!” I cried: for she was lingering as if with the idea that the Italian’s entreaty might perchance induce me to alter my mind. “No, no!” he cried; “ you will not doit! Mr. Tremaine may Land me over toa the grasp of justice !” **He can take whatsoever course he thinks fit, signor,” I replied, as I heard the library door close behind Beda. “I would have spared you this ignominy and danger; but you would not accept the terms which I offered. You have only your- self to thank for the issue which the present ad- venture is now taking. Beware how you attempt to move, signor!—for you must know that if I am rendered desperate, it is by your own conduct !” I spoke with a degree of stern resoluteness that seemed suitable to the position in which I found myself placed; and I continued to hold the pistol in a threatening manner at the Italian’s head. “Release me,” he said,—“ release me, I conjure you! Iwill at once take my departure! I swear that I will. never approach these premises again— I will never molest Charlotte nor yourself “4 | “Silence, signor! silence!” I said in a pe- remptory tone. “It is useless for you to entreat or implore. I am decided and determined!” So terrible grew the Italian’s looks at this instant that I really fancied he meant to make some desperate effort to shake me off. But he did not; yet his eyes were glaring up at me in a man- ner only too well calculated to fill my soul with — ce — ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, terror. There was a minute of profound silence, —a minute of acute suspense On my part: but this feeling was suddenly put an end to by the open: ing of the door—and again did Beda glide to- wards me. She was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs, Tremaine, neither of whom had begun to undress when she had knocked at their chamber-door to summon them. I now suffered Ludovico Marano to rise up from the carpet; but hastening to the glass door, I leant with my back against it, keep- ing the pistol in my hand. Mr. and Mrs. Tre- maine were very much excited: they both how- ever flung looks of gratitude and admiration upon me, as if thanking me for my conduct; and then bending their regards upon Ludovico as he stood before them, they exclaimed in a breath, “ Villain ! what are you doing here ?” “A very few words of explanation will suffice,” I said, taking if upon myself to answer for the culprit. He does not believe that your daughter Charlotte has finally renounced him: he seeks an interview with her—he swears that he will hear the decision from her lips only! After every- thing that has passed, I could not take it upon myself to bring Charlotte and this person to- gether ; therefore did I send Beda to fetch you— Charlotte’s parents—that you may act according to your own discretion in the matter.” “Signor Marano,” said Mr. Tremaine, making a sign for his wife to be silent, “ you are adopting a course which cannot possibly be justified! My daughter has declined to receive your ad- dresses i “ She is coerced!” exclaimed Ludovico passion- ately: “she is coerced! I will not believe it can possibly be otherwise! Fortwo years and upwards had we loved each other—for two years and up- wards had I cherished your daughter’s image !— and from her own lips had I received the assurance that mine was equally dear to her ?” “Dare not to talk of love, signor,” ejaculated Mr. Tremaine sternly, “when you cannot deny the fact that you made overtures to another lady —to Beatrice di Carboni 5: “It was a momentary infatuation!” cried the Italian, stamping his foot with the enraged ex- citement of one who thus endeavoured to enforce a preposterous assertion. — ‘It is useless to argue this point,” ejaculated Mr. Tremaine: “ my daughter has ceased to look upon you otherwise than as a man utterly un- worthy of her regard. And even were it not so, both her mother and myself—aye, and all our friends—would strenuously and inexorably set our faces against the bare idea sg “Ah, I knew that she was acting under co- ercion!” exclaimed Ludovico. “I must see her! I will hear from her own lips that she loves me no longer !” “And what,” asked Mr. Tremaine, * if Char- lotte repeats the assurance which I have already given you? Will you act asa man of honour? are you capable of doing so? will you pledge your- self that you will henceforth abstain-——~” “ Ask Miss Percy,” demanded Ludovico Marano, “whether I have not already given promises to this effect? Look you, Mr.-Tremaine! I am no needy adventurer seeking your daughter’s hand for the sake of any fortune which you may be en- abled to give her 14 2 ed eer eee: angen — a —_ = _ — * COMMICLOOKS (E(0)