Rosa Lambert — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

SS Suse ae ee — 4 ’ : Pa * A ’ a a up lec nana eee Beales loaded. Much as I love you—much as I burn to possess you wholly and solely—I am nevertheless not quite so infatuated as to swing for you on the gibbet. One word more—and then you shall give me your decision. By aid of those pistols 1 have kept you here for nearly three quarters of an hour :’—and he coolly looked at his watch as he still leant with his back against the door. “The anonymous letter to which I have alluded, will inform Captain Fortescue that you voluntarily accompanied me to this place. You may deny the tale as you will—you may talk of treachery—you may vow and protest—you may weep and wail— you may play off all your woman’s airs—hysterics, frenzy, raving, shrieks, faintings, and so forth: but rest assured that Fortescue will investigate the matter! Then he will find every corrobora- tion. The woman of this house will repeat with accuracy the tale that I shall put in her mouth—a tale that will be told with an off-hand business- like ingenuousness, and will prove that you were lovingly complying. But that is not all! The driver of the coach will tell his tale with equal fidelity to my interest—to the effect that I joimed you at a certain spot, whence we repaired hither. Now, Rose, will you court all that shame and de- gradation ? will you brand yourself with all that crowning infamy ?—or will you, on the other hand, comply with my terms ?” Again I sank lke one annihilated upon the chair: my brain was whirlmg in confusion,—the only lucid idea being that I was utterly enmeshed in the most inextricable web that ever the devilish ingenuity of a fiend in human shape had woven for the complete destruction of a fellow-creature. But, Ah! a thought struck me. It flashed in unto my mind through the misty confusion of my brain, as the lightning darts in a moment ‘through the murky clouds. It wasa last hope—but was clutched at with the avidity which the drowning wretch displays when grasping at a straw: it was sug- gestive that I might perhaps be in possession of a talisman which in a single moment would change the whole aspect of the scene. “Mr Rockingham,” I said, slowly rising from my seat and addressing him in a firm cold voice, “if you only laboured one quarter as much to per- form good actions as you toil to consummate evil ones, you would be one of the sublimest characters on the face of the earth. But Satan has placed you upon this earth to work out his own infernal purposes. You threaten me with ruin if I refuse compliance with your demands? Well, be it so. Sooner will I dare everything—sooner will I risk everything—than succumb once more to your _ treacheries !”’ “Mark well, Rose!—it is either love or ven- geance!” interrupted Horace. “Hither love of that fervid passionate nature as I alone can under- | Stand it: or else vengeance of that implacable character as only I can wreak it!”—and his eyes burnt with that terrific expression which I have particularly noticed in the opening chapter of my narrative. “* Let it be revenge, sir, if you will,” I answered, still coldly and firmly: “ for rest assured that never will I court such love as yours. No: the embrace of a reptile were infinitely preferable! But re- member, sir, that you will not stand alone in the wreaking of revenge :”’—and now I trembled with ROSA LAMBERT. "9g a fearful suspense as to the success of the talisman which I was about to apply in the hope of chang- ing the aspect of the present scene. . “ You, on your side, will do all you can to parade me as a being, sunken down into the lowest pollutions:—I, on my part, will parade your father as a ruined man !’ “ Rose !”—-and Horace Rockingham started— nay, actually bounded a foot from the floor, as if the most powerful electric shock had suddenly been applied to his very feet. “Yes!” I ejaculated, the thrill of ineffable de- light and glorious triumph sweeping through my entire frame, as I was thus in a moment relieved from all uncertainty as to the talismanic power of the secret which the adventures of the masquerade had put into my possession: “I will tell the world that though Mr. Rockingham, senior, may still maintain the appearance of a rich man, he is in reality a ruined one—that fatal speculations have swept away his colossal fortune—and that with tears in his eyes, six weeks back, he confessed to his son the frightful condition of his affairs !” My triumph, my joy, and my vindictive delight experienced not the least abatement—but on the contrary, were enhanced by the effect produced on Horace Rockingham by these words. For a moment his eyes flashed upon me with that terrific power which I have before described: then the light seemed suddenly to die m their depths, like burning cinders which go out all in an instant as water is thrown upon them. His countenance became as pale as death—a fearful agitation con- vulsed him visibly—he would have fallen, I verily believe, if he had not been leaning against the door on which he had sunk back after that galvanic spring upward when the power of the talisman was first apphed to him. “ Now, sir,’ I said, with the confidence of one whose turn it was to command, “how stand we in reference to each other ?” “Tt is for you to dictate conditions, Rose,” responded Horace, in a faint, half-dying voice : “and I, who ere now dictated them, must submit !” “No doubt of it!” I immediately added: then in an imperious tone, I exclaimed, “Stand away from that door!’’ He at once obeyed: but with a sudden start, he instantaneously observed, “I understand it all! The masquerade !” “"Yes—you are right,” I answered. “I was indeed there; and it was to me, Horace Rock- ingham, that you addressed yourself in the dark avenue, when you thought you were speaking to another.”’ “Good God! the coincidence! the accident !— —it is astounding!” and as he thus spoke, his looks expressed the bewildering wonderment to which he had given verbal utterance. “Summon hither,” I said, “the woman of the house.” He called forth the name of Mrs. Simpson from the top of the stairs; and the female in the black silk dress and the cap with pink ribbons, forth- with made her appearance. ‘The sight of the wretch filled me with an ineffable loathing; and L stepped back a pace or two as she entered the room—for her very breath seemed to carry con- tamination upon it. COMMUC OOO (El)