Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

LS sss sess 202 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, —_— OO Or OO! COO ee indeed feel faint, as I had something more than a the business after my own way. Where could I merely dim and obscure idea of the awful, the | see you again in a couple or three hours ?” frightful significancy of that picture. | “Wherever you may choose to appoint,” I re- Zarah gave me the water, from imbibing which ; plied. “ Name a spot in the neighbourhood where I experienced refreshment and relief; and I said, | you think that you will be enabied to conduct me “Do not question me on the subjects whereof we | to that young lady.” have been conversing. A secret is involved which,; The woman reflected for a few moments; and as you may well imagine, is not mine own. Per- | then she said, “Would you mind, Miss, meeting haps the day may come, as I have already informed | me in front of Whitechapel Church in about you, when I shall be enabled to give explana- | two hours from this time ?” tions.” “IT will meet you there,” I answered: but as a Zarah again assured me that she had no imper- | sudden thought flashed to my brain, bidding me tinent curiosity; and I took my departure, pro- | be upon my guard against even the remotest pos- mising to return on the morrow, when I should | sible chance of treachery, I added, “ You have no expect to find Beda there. objection that I should be accompanied by a friend On issuing from the house, I resolved to repair | or two—a gentleman and a lady who are as anx- straight to Mivart’s Hotel and inform the Marquis | ious as myself to find that poor fugitive creature ?” and Marchioness of Campanella of all that I had| “You may come with a dozen friends if you heard. I was proceeding along the street in search | like, Miss,” answered the woman: “it isn’t of of acab, when a woman passed me; and as she | the slightest matter to me: there is a bargain be- looked at me significantly, I thought that her | tween us—and I dare say that on my side I shall coarse bloated features were not altogether un- | be able to fulfil it,” familiar to my recollection. I turned to fling} “Hasten then quick,” I cried, “and execute another glance at her: she had stopped and was | whatever plan you havein view! Rely upon my gazing after me; and suddenly retracing her steps | punctuality in keeping the appointment which you towards me, she said, “Surely you must be the | have given.” young lady who called once or twice at my| We now separated; and I had no doubt as to house ti the sincerity of the woman, though I saw that in “Ah, I remember!” was the ejaculation which | her mercenary avarice she had resolved to derive now burst from my lips: for this was the woman | a good pecuniary advantage from the information who kept the small chandler’s shop in the neigh- | that she might be enabled to give. I speedily bourhood of Clare Market, where the unfortunate | found a cab, and repaired to Mivart’s Hotel, Beatrice di Carboni had occupied a mean and | There I found the Marquis and Marchioness of ja humble lodging. Campanella just returning from paying a visit to » “Have you found that young person since?” | Lady Cecilia Urban; and I immediately informed inquired the woman. them that I had obtained tidings of Beatrice, “No!—and I am searching for her!” was my | They were both rejoiced,—the Marchioness espe. quick response. “Have you seen her—have you | cially so; and I commenced my explanations. I found any trace id told them that having occasion to visit a young “T think I might discover where she is, Miss,’?| woman residing in a street near the London Uni- answered the woman. versity, I had thereby been led to the discovery of “Oh! if you could,’ I exclaimed, enthusiastic | the abode of the Count of Carboni. I narrated with a sudden joy, “ you know not how grateful I | all that I had heard in respect to tne fearful pic- should be!—and most liberally should you be re-| ture; and I wound up with a description of my warded! Tell me what clue you have - interview with the landlady of the house in the “It can’t be all done in a moment, Miss,” in- | region of Clare Market. terrupted the woman. “Just tell me what recom- « And, Ok!” I exclaimed, with a partial renewal pense I may expect for my trouble; and in the! of the harrowed feelings I had experienced at course of a few hours you shall perhaps know | Zarah’s lodgings; “is there not a terribly signifi- something.” cant connexion between the subject of that awful Though disgusted with the woman’s mercenary | picture and the horrible mysterious words used by character, I did not choose to betray the sentiment | Beatrice the last time I ever saw her, when she which thus inspired me; and veiling that loathing, | spoke of the living and the dead being compelled I said, “ Name your own terms, and they shall be | to hold companionship until the brain of the former complied with.” well nigh reeled into madness ?” * Well, Miss,” continued the woman, in whose “'Yes—Oh, yes! there is a horrible connexion P” eyes the greedy love of gold was expressed, “if | said the Marchioness, with a visible shudder. you wouldn’t think a five-pcund note too much, I “The Count may have been outraged by the don’t mind taking the troubie vi conduct of his wife, as no doubt he was,” said the “Too muchP—no!” I exclaimed, wondering | Marquis of Campanella with a sombre lock; “ but that she did not ask ten times the amount: for in if indeed that picture has the significancy which the excitement of my feelings I forgot that she | our conjectures now impart to it, the vengeance could have no idea of the importance that it was | was too horrible—yes, ¢oo horrible even for a dis- to find Beatrice, and of how many hearts were in- | honoured husband to wreak! Let us not however terested in her. “You shall have the money; give way entirely to surmises: but let us await the | and here is an earnest of my liberality,’ I added, | explanations which we shall doubtless receive if we placing a couple of sovereigns in her hands, “ But | succeed in finding Beatrice. We will accompany tell me what clue you possess fe you, Miss Trafford :—we will depart to the place “Don’t ask me any more questions now, Miss,” | of appointment whenever you give the signal.” | interrupted the woman. “Leave me to manage; The Marchioness thanked her husband with a ComUlcwiooksreom