Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 115: what you’re looking at

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102 the lady-thieves alone—because, as you may easily suppose, it would be a blessing to get rid of them: but I mean the honest, upright, fair-dealing ladies as well. ‘Tbe aristocracy all stick by each other ; and the exposure of any one belonging to their sphere is felt as a disgrace by the whole body. Therefore, if an exposure were once made, they would wreak the most terrible vengeance on the proprietors of the establishment.” * But is it possible,” I asked, in amazement, “that this can be the morality of the higher orders P” “T am telling you nothing but the truth, Miss,” answered the shopman. “ Before I came to this establishment, I served in another, higher up the street; and a la'y who had long carried on a systematic course of depredations, was at length given into custody. I cannot tell you the excite- ment that prevailed. The lady-customers sent the most insolent messages by their lacqueys to ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. she had purloined her niece’s purse was a matter beyond a doubt. Connected with the incident that had just occurred at the shop, there was a reflec- tion which was fraught with infinite relief to my own mind. I saw that after all I had not really been suspected by the Duchess of Ardleigh and the Marquis of Dalrymple: Lady Mangold’s pro- pensity, mania, or whatever it might be called, was evidently well known to them; and they thus at once comprehended by what means the purse was missing. Hence the rapid and significant glances which they had exchanged; and hence too the manner in which the Duchess had endea- voured to turn the affair off by attributing it to a mistake, and hinting at the similitude of her own purse to that of Lady Mangold. CHAPTER XxX. my employer, to the effect that as he dared give a] lady in charge, they would never deal with him again. Showers of anonymous notes poured in, full of threats as well as abuse,—some of which latter was penned in the very coarsest style. My employer was resolved to go on with the case; and the Jady was brought up several times before the magistrate. An immense amount of what was called sympathy prevailed amongst the upper class; and I daresay there was a great deal of fellow-feeling with the whole tribe of lady-thieves especially. Would you believe it, Miss P—a thou- sand guineas were subscribed to bribe the editor of a powerful daily newspaper to insert a leading article in the lady’s favour; and he did it. In short, everything was done to create sympathy— to prove that the poor lady was the victim of an unconquerable mania for which she was altogether irresponsible—and that my employer was a cruel, unfeeling, hard-hearted monster. Well, the case went for trial—the evidence was clear—the lady herself had admitted the theft—it was notorious that she had plundered and pilfered at other shops in the same way ~ “And therefore the jury condemned her, as a matter of course P” ““T beg your pardon, Miss,” replied the shop- man: “the jury acquitted her! She went home in triumph with her friends; and my employer was ruined. She now rolls by in her carriage every day rc “There is something dreadful in all this!” I re- marked. “I could scarcely have believed it pos- sible.” “There is not a shopkeeper of any standing or eminence at the West End, who is not rendered the victim of these fashionable pilferers. Our Joss in this establishment is annually immense. We have to keep two ‘ walking shopmen,’ as they are called, entirely for the purpose of looking after these lady-thieves. It was one of those shopmen who just now whispered to you, Miss, to take no notice of Lady Mangold’s achievement; and if you had not witnessed it, I should not have given you all these explanations. But I hope that you will keep them secret.” I promised that I would; and still under the influence of indescribable astonishment, I issued from the establishment. Jiady Mangold was a confirmed thief; and that THEATRICAL MATTERS. On the following day, at about two o’clock in the afternoon, I repaired to the theatre, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Norman, for the purpose of obtaining the assent of Mr. Richards, the lessee, that certain members of his company should, if willing, assist at the private theatricals at Ardleigh House. Mr. Richards received us in his own room; and he cheerfully agreed to whatsoever I proposed: for since the achievement of my suc- cesses, he had been all politeness, civility, and attention towards me. In the midst of our deliberations some one tapped at the door: Mr. Richards bade the in- dividual enter; and it proved to be an underling, delighting in the euphonious name of Tubbs. “Now, Tubbs, what is it?” asked the lessee, impatiently. ‘You see that I am engaged fs “Tt is Mr. Wright, sir,’ answered Tubbs, with the most submissive demeanour. “Wright? Wright?” said Mr. Richards. “ Who the deuce is Mr. Wright?” “If you please, sir,” responded Tubbs, “he is the gentleman—the author, I mean—of that play which you gave to Mr. Green to read.” “Ah, to besure! I recollect now!” ejaculated the lessee. ‘Green has reported admirably of it ) “He was telling me yesterday,” interjected Mr. Norman, “that it is a most excellent piece.” “Oh, well!” exclaimed Mr. Richards, “ tell Mr. Wright I am very busy now—I cannot pos- sibly see him—let him come to-morrow, Tubbs— or next day.” ** If you please, sir,’ said Tubbs deferentially, * he has already called thirty or forty times zs “Then he must call again. These dramatic authors,” continued Mr. Richards, throwing him- self back in his chair, and sipping a glass of claret, wher Tubbs had retired, “are the greatest pests we managers have to endure. They call at all hours! No matter whether I am taking my lunch—or my nap—or my glass of wine—or smoking my cigar in the evening—in short, how- ever busily I may be engaged, it is always sure to be the author of a piece sent in for approval that must want to disturb me. Those fellows have no conscience, Mr. Norman.” a a aaaacreareaaaaaaaaceasaaaaccccc aac ntl Eomichbook com