Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

NN EEE sce nace ei ere 228 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “TI now remember reading of that man Luigi’s suicide about a fortnight ago—and I recollect that the name you have just mentioned i “Father Maffeo,”’ I interjected. “To be sure!” cried Charlotte: “it was he who attended the wretch in his cell “ “Tt is he who stands here!” I said, pointing to Ludovico. ‘Let him deny it if he can !” “Oh, he will deny it, Miss Percy!” exclaimed Charlotte; “because it is outrageous! it is pre- posterous !” “Tt is true!” LTeried. “And again I say, he dares not deny it !” Charlotte bent a look of most anxious, suspense- ful inquiry upon Marano: his face told the tale but too plainly—his aspect confirmed my words— he saw that a cry was about to burst forth from Charlotte’s lips—and snatching hold of her hand, he said, “ For heaven’s sake do not prejudge me! let me tell you the whole tale!—and though it is little generous on the part of Miss Perey , “Ob, signor!” I ejaculated, “do not attempt to throw back upon my head one single particle of the blame which attaches itself entirely to you! But put this history apart—lay it aside Ma “Ob, perhaps he can explain it so as to satisfy you, Miss Percy !” cried Charlotte, trembling with nervous uneasiness, “ Let him continue!” “Tt is unnecessary,’ I said: “ we will turn our attention to another point. Oh, Miss Tremaine! it is only in your interest that Iam speaking; for very, very painful is this scene to me! But you are confiding and generous-hearted—you are frank and trustful—and I dare not suffer you to be duped and deceived! Yet duped and deceived you are! Oh, Charlotte, I pity you—and it rends my heart to proclaim the fatal truth!—but the vows of that young man were the other day plighted to Beatrice di Carboni—and at this very instant she is writhing under a sense of the wrongs which she has sustained at his hands!” A half-stifled cry now came from the lips of Charlotte Tremaine: she thrust Ludovico away from her—she bent a look of anguish upon me— and she sank upon a chair. But consciousness did not abandon her: it was evident she had sus- tained a blow which for. the moment stupified and overwhelmed her, closing the fountains of an affliction the outburst of which would have at once proved a vent for her wounded feelings. “Signor Marano,” I said, hastening towards the Italian, who stood riveted to the spot, the very picture of mingled dismay, rage, and dis- comfiture, “I have only performed a duty !—and now I enjoin you to leave this house without delay !” Ludovico started, as if smitten with the con- viction that everything was indeed over in respect to Charlotte Tremaine: his countenance became ghastly pale—a diabolical expression seized upon his features—and he said to me in a low hoarse voice, “‘ By heaven, Miss Percy, I will be avenged! You know me !—TI will be avenged!” “ Ah!” ejaculated Charlotte, starting up from the chair on which she had sunk down a few mo- ments previously: “you have now revealed your own character, Ludovico, in a manner which I cannot possibly mistake! Depart, signor !—de- part, I command you!” The Italian bent for a moment a supplicating look upon Charlotte: but he read naught in her features that was indicative of a yielding weakness on her own part, or that could encourage him to make one more desperate attempt to recover his lost ground ;—and therefore, asif suddenly making up his mind how to act, he rushed precipitately from the room. Then Charlotte Tremaine flung her arms about my neck, crying, “Oh! from what an abyss of sorrow have you saved me !”—and she burst into tears. CHAPTER CIV. ANOTHER JOURNEY. PAINFUL as was the part which I had been com- pelled to perform, f still could not look back upon it with regret: indeed I was now rejoiced that I had with such stern perseverance obeyed the dic- tates of duty. In this sense I spoke to Charlotte Tremaine; and she said, “ Yes, Miss Perey—lI give you credit for the best possible feelings! But, Oh! to think that there should be such duplicity in human nature !” “* The Ludovico Marano of the present day,” I said, mournfully shaking my head, “is evidently much altered from the Ludovico Marano to whom your love was first given!” * But this Countess of Carboni?” said Char- lotte, inquiringly; ‘“‘are you sure that she is not some intriguing syren who may have beguiled and fascinated Ludovico—thrown her spells about him » “ Not so!” I responded. “ Believe me, Ludo- vico Marano was faithless to your image when he told a tale of love to the ear of Beatrice di Car- boni—and then to her he proved faithless also when suddenly encountering you again!” “ But Oh, my friend!” interrupted Charlotte, “ought I not to look upon this conduct on his part as a proof of the strong love he entertains to- wards me ?” “T beseech you, Charlotte,” I said, now ad- dressing her in the kindest spirit of entreaty, “not to waver in the resolution to which you ere now came when you bade Ludovico Marano de- part! Itis utterly impossible that you can ac- company to the altar a man in whose veins rolls the fiercest Italian blood—whose instincts are as ferocious as those of the wild beast—and whose ideas of vengeance are as terrific as those of the Malay or the Red Indian! Listen, Charlotte ! It is a tale which I thought and hoped I should never be called upon to repeat: but under exist- ing circumstances it is necessary to give you some details.” I then told her sufficient with respect to the recent proceedings of Ludovico Marano under the disguise of Father Maffeo, to convince Charlotte that she must indeed abandon all idea of accom- panying such an individual to the altar. She lis- tened with a profound attention; her face was very pale—her eyes were fixed, and no tear mois- tened them. It was evident that in proportion as I developed the details of Ludovico’s dark vindic- tiveness, she was nerving herself with the courage necessary to proclaim her resolution as being CO MICLOOOKS CONN