Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 325: what you’re looking at

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312 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. inquiry that the Marquis was at home. Without sending in any name, I desired an immediate in- terview with him; and a footman speedily ushered Melissa and myself to the handsomely furnished drawing-room, where his lordship joined us in the course of a few minutes. He evidently expected not whom he was to see; for the instant I raised my veil he started with visible surprise and de- light; and then his eyes settled upon Melissa. She also raised her veil on a sign that I made her to this effect: she was deadly pale, and so terribly agitated that she could not rise from her seat when the Marquis entered the room. He was about to address me with a bland smile and a tender look, when I at once exclaimed, “ My lord, I am here for a motive very different from that which you can possibly imagine. A stupendous fraud has been perpetrated upon you; and were it not that for my reputation’s sake I am bold, I should blush and sink down to the earth with shame at thus finding myself compelled to breathe @ single syllable in allusion to such profligacy— such infamy. But here is the female who visited you the other night !—this is Melissa Harrison, the pretended friend who received your lordship’s letter which was addressed to myself—that letter in which you agreed to the stipulations she laid down! Here too is a portion of the money for which she committed the foul crime. The re- mainder was kept possession of by her paramour, who was also her accomplice. I hope to recover at least a portion of that sum for your lordship; and if it be necessary I shall unhesitatingly pro- claim his name—though for the present I think fit to conceal it.” It was in the midst of this speech that I tossed upon the table the gold and bank-notes I had re- ceived from Melissa Harrison; and the speech itself produced an almost overwhelming effect upon the Marquis of Tynedale. Surprise was quickly heightened into astonishment—astonish- ment was succeeded by consternation—conster- nation gave place to the excitement of rage—and rushing towards Melissa, he demanded in a hoarse voice, “Is this true, young woman ? —is it true?” “ For God’s sake spare me!” she cried, falling upon ber knees and stretching forth her clasped hands in anguished entreaty to the Marquis. “Shen it zs true!” he ejaculated, smiting him- self furiously upon the chest. “Tobesure! I should have suspected it! Fool, dolt that I have been! Those minute precautions—that thickly folded veil—darkness—the stipulations and then that interview which I had to-day in the Park with you, Miss Trafford——all these things should have opened my eyes, if infatuated folly had not rendered me blind! Yes, it is but too true !—and I have been the veriest dupe, the most besotted idiot the sun ever shone upon !” “Tf your lordship’s own conduct were other- wise,” I said, “it would not have rendered you thus liable to deception and plunder.” “ By heaven!” he ejaculated, his whole form quivering with rage, “it is enough to drive one mad! But I will be revenged !” He was rushing towards the door—a cry rang from Melissa’s lips—and I, laying my hand upon the arm of the Marquis, said emphatically, “ Re- member, my lord, that in order to punish this sinful young woman you must expose yourself! ————S It is for you to judge whether you will dare the ridicule of your friends, the scorn of the world, the indignation of the good, and the contempt of those who are as bad as you are.’ He was visibly struck by my observations; and turning away from the door, he surveyed Melissa Harrison long and attentively. She had started up from her kneeling posture when she gave vent to that scream at the dread lest he intended to summon the officers of justice to take her into custody : and she was now standing, the picture of distress, with her hands clasped. “You have spoken truly, Miss Trafford,” said the Marquis, at length breaking silence—and he now spoke in a far gentler voice than before : “there must be no exposure !” * And you are now to learn,’ I continued, “ how it happened that this erring young woman was enabled to practice the deceit. She called upon me a few minutes after I received your letter containing the cheque. I showed her both —for I believed that she was my friend—I be- lieved likewise that she was well-principled. I enclosed that letter and that cheque in a blank envelope, to be returned to you—Melissa Harrison undertook to deliver the packet——your lordship may imagine all the rest.” Having thus spoken, I bowed coldly and dis- tantly to the Marquis of Tynedale, and moved towards the door. Melissa followed me: but the Marquis detained her for a moment while he whis- pered something in her ear; and then she was close behind me again. We both of us drew down our veils as we issued from the house and took our seats in the cab. The driver asked where he was to take us?—and I bade him return into London, telling him that I could presently pull the check-string to give him additional orders—for I was uncertain at the moment in respect to the course which I should next pursue. I could not trust Melissa, notwithstanding all the contrition she had displayed and the terrorism which on ac- count of her crime I was enabled to exercise over her; and I feared that if I lost sight of her before all my objects were fully carried out, she might give a speedy warning to Lord Frederick Ravens- cliffe, and he might rush off to the Continent with the intention of remaining there until the storm should have blownover. ‘“‘ Melissa,” I said, after some few minutes of reflection, “it is perhaps useless for me to inquire what the Marquis of Tynedale whispered in your ear at the instant you were following me from the drawing-room——” “ What!” she exclaimed, “you think that I will not tell you? Oh! rest assured that I mean to deal truthfully with yow at least, in all things, as the only means of showing my deep contrition for the crime of which I have been guilty!” “Tt is through no mere idle feeling of curiosity,” I said, “that I seek to learn what his lordship may have whispered to you: but if it regard myself, I am justified under all circumstances in asking to be made acquainted with it.” “It was simply a request,” responded Melissa, in a low tone, “that I would call upon him to- morrow.” I made no comment upon this explanation—it evidently regarded me not at all: but I fancied that I could fathom his lordship’s design, Indeed , CONNEDOOKS Com