Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 314: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 301 a hat of a peculiar shape: he had large bushy j sire: “but I thought that I would wait for a few whiskers, and a moustacle. Ue was dressed in a blue frock coat buttoned up to the chin, and mili- tary grey trousers. He carried a cane; and an eye-glass, suspended round his neck by a black ribbon outside his coat, was stuck in his right eye. My immediate impression was that he must be a foreigner. He stared hard at me as I passed, so that the second look which I flung upon him was ipstanta- neously withdrawn; and I was continuing my way, when I heard footsteps behind me—and this singular-looking individual was at once by my side, “If you did not know me, Ellen,” he said, “the disguise must be an effective one.” Good heaven! it was my father’s voice —and it was my father himself too!—for I now recognised his features—or rather I should say as much of them as all the false hatv which he wore left re- vealed. I must confess that I was at first as much pained as astonished to behold him thus ludicrously disguised ; for I was naturally struck by the idea that as he had his pardon in his pocket there could not be any absolute need for such a concealment of his personal identity. “ Be not angry, and be not astonished, my dear girl,” said my father, who at once comprehended what was passing in’ my mind; “for if there be no absolute necessity for this disguise, it is never- theless dictated by several prudential reasons, as you shall immediately learn.” We walked away into the retired and little fre- quented streets which exist in the neighbourhood of Euston Square: and I awaited with curiosity the forthcoming explanations. “Tn the first place,’ resumed my father, “I must speak of that villain Parks ” “Ts he deceiving us?” I exclaimed: “have you reason to suspect a “Listen, Ellen,” interrupted my father. “Knowing that Parks is a man capable of any iniquity, duplicity, and deceit, I thought after we left him the other day, that it would be as well if I were to institute some watch upon his move- ments; for I reflected that perhaps sooner than surrender up so large a sum, he might hastily realize all his property and decamp to the Euro- pean continent, to America, or to one of the far distant colonies, Keeping in mind the importance of the sum which is at stake, I was not likely to hesitate at a trifle when once I had resoived to maintain a watch upon his movements. Hence therefore this disguise. I have followed Parks on various occasions and to many places within the metropolis; but I have seen nothing to con- firm my suspicion that he may after all attempt to play us false. To-morrow, therefore, we shall proceed to his residence, according to the appoint- ment which he gave us the other day. But there was another reason which induced me to assume this disguise. Thomas Parks is not the only in- dividual whom I have watched: I have likewise been keeping my eye upon Lord Frederick Ravens- cliffe.” *“ You have seen him, then, father?” I said, anxious to know whether there were any shadow of a chance that he might be brought to the ne- cessity of rendering an act of justice to Juliet. “TI have seen him frequently,” responded my days ere I made myself known to him. My ob- ject in watching him, Ellen, has been to form an idea of his pursuits, so that I may judge whether he be likely to yield to the influences which I must bring to bear upon him—in short, that I might the better know how to shape my own course of action. For though I am resolved to leave no stone unturned in order to compel him to do an act of justice to your friend Juliet, yet must I proceed delicately and cautiously, For remember that though I have my pardon in wy pocket, and may defy him on that poiut—yet that I am not equally independent on another point. For if I were to threaten him with exposure in respect to his villanous conduct towards your friend Juliet, he might, alas! turn round and retaliate— he might bid me beware how I brought down the vengeance of the law upon himself, inasmuch as I was an accomplice in hig iniquity. There- fore, my dear girl,” continued my father, “ I am compelled to proceed with all possible caution, He is leading a life of dissipation; and it is sel- dom that one who falls into such pursuits, fails to lay himself open in some weak points which may be taken advantage of for particular purposes. For these reasons have I watched him, and may continue to do so for yet a little while longer, ere I finally shape out the course which I may have to adopt.” “I must leave everything,” I answered, “ to your judgment: and heaven grant that your pro- jects may succeed! I know that all the love which Juliet once experienced towards that young noble- man, has turned into disgust, if not into hatred: but for her own sake, as well as for that of her parents, she would doubtless accept the position of a wife, so as effectually to shield her dis. honour,” “ Reverting to the business which we have in hand for the morrow,” said my father—“ I mean our appointment with Mr. Parks—I have just made up my mind to take a step which will con- vince him that we are not to be trifled with. I will this evening throw off my disguise and pay him a visit, to remind him that the appointment does stand for the morrow.” After a little more conversation, I and my father separated ; and as it was then too late for me to pay my previously intended visit to Lady Cecilia Urban, I returned to Hunter Street. On the following morning, immediately after breakfast, I received a letter from my father. He therein informed me that he had seen Mr. Parks on the preceding evening, and that the appoint. ment was postponed for a week. He went on to say that Mr. Parks had alleged as an excuse for this delay the difliculty of raising so large a sum of money in so short a time—that he had pro- duced documents and letters to prove that he was in the course of obtaining the required amount, and that he was acting a sincere part. My father assured me in this letter that there was nothing in the lawyer’s conduct to excite his suspicion, and that he believed everything would result suc- cessfully, though he was resolved not to rela® io his look out upon Mr. Parks’s movements and proceedings. I confess, however, that I now had my misgivings: but there was no help for it—the business was in the hands of my father, who was ©. (COUMUCS 0)(0 (0) cS Com