Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

spectfully of Juliet Norman?” ne ne ELLEN PERCY; OBR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. oll “ And at the theatre,” I continued, “the other | when you have told me that it was he himseit night, when you with so much seeming frankness | who suggested the fiendish plot by which tho recommended me to burn unopened any letters | which his lordship might direct to me,— you feared that if he did chance to write, he might perhaps address his correspondence to Hunter Street instead of under cover to yourself as my supposed friend ?” **'Yes—there again you have rightly fathomed my motive,” rejoined Melissa. “Now answer me another question,” I said. “ Has Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe ever spoken -——-I mean has he ever dared to speak disre- * Never,” answered Melissa. not been mentioned, unless very casually, since the day when he met me in the street and in- | it! quired how the Normans treated the occurrence at the theatre, when himself and Colonel Bellew made their appearance in the Green Room.” “And now tell me, Melissa,’ I said, “ what were your plans ?—-what happiness did you hope to derive from the possession of so much money 60 iniquitously obtained ?” “There are several particulars which I have yet to give you,” answered Melissa. “ Lord Frederick represented to me at the time that it was very fortunate [ had spoken to him about the cheque, as there were always certain formalities to be ful- filled at a banking-house notwithstanding that the draft might be simply made payable to the bearer, ‘and though previous advice had been given by the individual who drew it.” “In this he utterly deceived you, Melissa,” I replied; “for there are no formalities whatever in such a case: the act of presentation is simple, and the draft is paid upon the spot. But doubt- less he had his own purposes to serve—he was desirous that he himself should obtain possession of the cheque—and perhaps he has retained the greater portion of the money ?” “He said that he had better keep the bulk of it,” rejoined Melissa: “but he gave me five hun- dred pounds to hold in my own possession. He bade me continue my avocation at the theatre for a little while—to avoid making any sudden change in my appearance as regards dress—and to live quietly and unostentatiously as before, so that by such a line of conduct no suspicion might be ex- cited. But it was arranged between us that in two or three weeks we should depart for the Con- tinent together; and as our purse would be in common, I had no ojection that he should retain the bulk of the money.” “ And did it never strike you, Melissa,” I asked, “that he might be grossly deceiving you the whole time—that he meant to squander upon his own pleasures the riches you had earned by the infamy of infamies,—infamy in your own person and in- famy towards myself! Did it never occur to you, T ask, that in a short while he would throw you off—that he would abandon you—and that you would see no more of the wealth you had entrusted to his keeping ?” “Tf I thought him capable of such villany,” exclaimed Melissa, her eyes flashing and her bosom swelling, “ I would s “How can you speak thus?” I asked, almost with indignation: “bow can you throw out a doubt relative to his capability of such conduct, ‘“‘Her name has | gold was obtained and my good name was sacri- | ficed P” * Alas, all this is but too true!”? murmured Me- lissa Harrison, with deepest mournfulness and with a look of the most abject shame. “ And now tell me,” I said, “ how much you have remaining of the five hundred pounds which he entrusted to your keeping ?” * T have it all,” rejoined Melissa, “with the ex- ception of some five-and-twenty or thirty pounds which I have spent, the greater portion in those | pieces for dresses, which were to be got in readi- But | ness for our intended trip to the Continent. here is the money; and Oh! for God’s sake tako I shall feel happier when it is gone !” “ Yes—I shall take it,” 1 answered; “and to deprive you of it, even to the uttermost farthing, is an act of justice, imperative and retributive, under the cirumstances.” Melissa had in the meanwhile opened a writinz- desk ;—and thence she took forth a quantity of notes and gold. On hastily counting the sum, I found that it corresponded pretty accurately with the statement which she had previously made in respect to the amount that remained to her ;—and I took possession of it. “ Now, Melissa,” I said, “you must at once accompany me to Kensington.” * Ob, my God!’ she cried, clasping her hands in anguish : “if the angry Marquis were to give me into custody! Alas, my poor child You should have thought of all these risks and dangers,” I said, “before you entered upon your nefarious proceedings. But it is not likely, for his own sake, that the Marquis of Tynedale will court exposure, or take any step calculated to give pub- licity to an occurrence that would only cover him: self with ridicule and shame. Besides, I have promised to shield you to the utmost of my power; and I will even condescend to intercede for you. But you must come at once! It is only half-past six,” I continued, consulting my watch ; “and you will be in time to return for the ballet if ins deed you have strength and spirit for appearing on the stage to-night.” “Tt is my duty to obey you in all things,” an- swered Melissa; “and I will accompany you. But for God’s sake save me from exposure, dis- grace, and punishment !” In a few minutes we issued forth together from the house : we entered a cab, and we proceeded to Kensington. Not a word was spoken during the hour occupied by the drive. I could not give utterance to any casual remark that might seem to be of a friendly or familiar character; and I had nothing more to say for the present in re- spect to the hideous transaction that had been so fully developed to my knowledge. I hated the companionship of Melissa: I loathed her contact: I regarded her as a prodigy of ingratitude, deceit, and wickedness, notwithstanding all the contrition she had displayed. My feelings were still too acutely chafed to permit me to regard her ina more charitable, merciful, and forgiving light. What her feelings must have been, I could only conjecture, and must therefore leave the reader to imagine. We reached Tynedale Lodge; and I lindtit on OEE OR ee — SO Eb ES ee ee ll et LL OS At CL Ce ee Ew oe re ee Oe ee CORNIECL@OO <S Goinnr