Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

336 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “Ob, certainly!” cried Parks, “Never sign, I listened with the utmost attention to every- anything that you are unacquainted with! Here thing that Mr. Parks was saying; and [ certainly is the document.” | was compelled to admit to myself that it would Mr. Parks accordingly handed my father a indeed be a piece of most unnecessary fastidious- parchment deed; and he read it attentively. He | ness to refuse my signature to the document. then reflected for a few minutes ; and he said, “I | Again therefore I said, “Mr, Parks, I will sign see no harm in your signing this document, Ellen. | it.” I will explain it to you. It sets forth that inas-| He bowed in acknowledgment of his thanks; much asa will, made by the deceased Mr. For- | and he said, “I am now about to summon my syth of Leeds, in favour of Mrs. Parks, now also | clerk to witness the signature of the deeds, May deceased, has given displeasure unto yourself, you | I beg of you both to adopt a demeanour which have threatened law-proceedings with a view of | may prevent the young man from suspecting that setting it aside on the score of the mental incapa- | anything beyond a mere business-transaction has city of the testator at the time to exercise due dis- | passed between us ?” crimination in the disposal of his property. You! Having thus spoken, Mr. Parks rang a bell; therefore consent and agree to accept the sum of | and almost immediately afterwards one of his three thousand pounds, together with a conveyance } clerks entered from the outer office. At the same of the house at Leeds, as a final settlement of the | instant the lawyer turned the cheque over upon matter at issue. By the fact of signing this docu- | its face, so that the clerk might not notice its ment, you acknowledge the validity, the legality, | amount. and the integrity of the will; and you debar/ ‘Mr. Moss,” said the lawyer, thus addressing yourself from the power of ever again making it | the clerk, “ you will have the kindness to witness the subject of any unpleasant disputation between | these two deeds. Here! run your eye over tho yourself and Mr. Parks. Such is the purport of | contents, so thaf you may know what you are the document which I hold in my hand,” added | attesting. The first—which is the one that I have my father ; “ and it is now, Ellen, for you to de- | to sign—conveys to Miss Percy a certain house at cide whether you will affix your signature or/| Leeds. You see the conveyance is in the usual not.” strain. This other deed—which is to be signed “Tf I understand the proceeding aright,” I | by Miss Percy—is in settlement of certain dis- said, “ it is a mere formality so far as I am con- | putes betwixt this lady and myself: but you will cerned ” soon see what the gist of it is. Look! Will of “ While it renders me free from all apprehen- | the deceased Mr. Forsyth of Leeds—bequeathing sion of every kind,” responded Parks. “ With|so and so—all the particulars duly set out, you such a document in my possession, I could at any | see then proviso for the conveyance of that moment defy the whisperings of scandal, if by any | house to Miss Percy, together with the payment possible means a hint should get abroad to the | of three thousand pounds In short, i¢ is an effect that the will at Doctor’s Commons is not a/ amicable arrangement to prevent a ruinous Chan- genuine one.” cery suit.” I looked at my father—I beheld in his counte- “I perceive, sir,’ said the clerk, who quickly nance nothing to dissuade me from taking the | made himself acquainted with the purport and proposed step ; and I recollected the earnest and | tenour of both documents. contrite manner in which Mrs, Parks had appealed | “ Now, I will sign first,” said Mr. Parks. “ Yes tome. I felt convinced that the lawyer was per- | —it is all right—the deed of conveyance !” and he forming a straightforward part in respect to the | signed accordingly: then placing his finger on the restitution of my fortune. Before me upon the/| seal, he added with the usual formality, “I accept writing-table lay the cheque for 36,3002.: there | this as my act and deed.” likewise was the deed conveying to me the house “Now, Ellen,” said my father, “it is for you to at Leeds ; and the discharge which I was called | sign.” upon to sign recapitulated the conveyance of that; “This is your document, Miss Percy,” ex- house. Was not everything straightforward there- | claimed the lawyer, as he placed it before me fore >—how could there be a possibility of fraud or | and handed me a pen. “ Be so kind as to sign deception on the lawyer’s part ? here. Your Christian name on one side of the “TI will sign that deed,” I said, after a few | seal—your surname on the other. Good! And moments of reflection. ‘Although it be attach- | now have the kindness to put your finger upon ing my name to something which is not strictly | that other seal, and repeat the little formality true = which you heard me utter.” “ Pardon me, Miss Percy,” interrupted Parks,| I did as I was desired,—saying, “I accept this “there is really no untruth involved in such a/|as my act and deed.” proceeding as this: the most fastidious mind| “Is that all, sir?” inquired the clerk, with a could not look upon it in any such sinister | bow. light. You do not thereby acknowledge your| “Ah! stop a moment!” cried Mr. Parks, “I conviction or belief that the will never was! had well nigh forgotten something—and not the forged : you merely say that you now recognise | least important feature of the business! I must its validity so far as you yourself are concerned | write a cheque for the three thousand pounds.” —which simply means that you pledge yourself; ‘‘ But you have already,” I exclaimed never to dispute it. Then, as for the considera- “Pray suffer me, Miss Percy,” interrupted Mr, tion of three thousand pounds in hard cash, you | Parks, “I know perfectly well what I am about.” have got twelve times that amount; and here I could not understand his proceeding: but I again you commit no violation of the truth in| supposed that he did; and as my father likewise signing the deed. ' seemed to comprehend it, I held my peace. Parks CORNIELIOOKS