Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

rr ee ee | er ee - re rm a ee a EE RR ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. that you are free—that you have come to terms with her ladyship—and tell Lardner that he is to walk up. If the men offer to accompany him, say that it is needless, for that I likewise am free, and that William Lardner is only required to givea certain pledge in order to bo restored to liberty also.” “Yes, yes,” said Dame Betty: “ but first of all let me get back the paper I signed just now : “We will have it presently!” I hastily inter- rupted her: “ for you must return to this room with William Lardner. Yes—be sure and return, that it may give a colour to a proceeding which would otherwise look suspicious.” The dame accordingly quitted the room, closing the door behind her; and I said to Lady Lilla, “Your life is at my mercy. A few moments’ pres- sure of my thumb, and your life is extinct! Re- main perfectly tranquil therefore, while I thus suffer you to breathe ; for you see that my eyes are fixed keenly upon you, and at the faintest mo- tion of the lips which may seem to herald an at- tempt to send forth a cry, my fingers shall fasten upon you as if this hand of mine were an iron vice.” Lady Lilla Essendine gazed up at me with an expression of countenance which I can scarcely define ;—it was vague, and almost vacant under the influence of consternation—for she evidently thought that I was fully nerved to desperation, and therefore capable of fulfilling the threats to which I had just given vent. And desperate I indeed was, though 1 do not know that I should have gone to such an extent as to take her life, even though it were to prevent her from scream- ing out and thereby imperilling my own. The minute or two whick followed were full of acutest suspense ; and when I heard footsteps be- ginning to ascend the ricketty staircase, I felt as if all my energy must melt away in a moment and that I must shriek out for mercy; for my first impression was that they were the hurried foot- steps of the excited ruffians which were thus ascending. But I was soon relieved of this cruel uncertainty ; for the door opened, and the dame reappeared, followed by William Lardner. There was an abrasion upon his forehead—but I was infinitely rejoiced to perceive at a glance that it was by no means serious; and William himself testified his delight and astonishment at beholding the position which matters had now assumed. “Are the men below thrown totally off their guard ?” I hastily inquired. “ Yes—perfectly,” replied William. ‘ The ap- pearance of the dame satisfied them in a moment ; and indeed, one said to his companions that ‘he knew it would be all right the instant her ladyship came.’ ” “And you think that you can walk out unmo- lested, William ?” : “JT am certain I can,” rejoined Lardner, with an air of unmistakable confidence. “ But let me go away first!” interrupted the dame. “I have particular reasons—very par- ticular 3 “Boe silent!” I interrupted her peremptorily. a a will speed at a rate baffling all pursuit—he will hasten to Petersfield ? “Yes, yes,” said William: “ tell me what I am to do!” “ Petersfield,” I said, “is about two miles dis- tant. How long will you be Ih “How long ?” ejaculated Lardner. “ In twenty minutes I will be there.” “Good!” I said. ‘ But tarry you there pre- cisely one hour after reaching it; and if at the expiration of that time you do not see me appear in safety at the hotel, lose not another moment in giving the requisite information to the authorities —and say that Lady Lilla Eesendine is the autho- ress or the instigatrix of whatsoever evil may bo discovered within the walls of these ruins!” “T will depart at once,” said William. “Your commands, Miss, shall be executed to the very letter !” “Ah! but one word more!” I ejaculated. “Here, Dame Betty—thrust your hand beneath her ladyship’s shawl. There! draw forth the paper which you just now signed! No, no! you are not to keep it! Give it to William !—it will be an evidence Be quiet! I warn you!” and I bent a menacing look upon Lady Lilla; for I thought on the instant that she was on the point of screaming out. ‘“ There, William !—secure that paper in your pocket !—and now depart!” Lardner issued from the room, closing the door behind him. “ Watch frofm the window, dame,” I said ; “ and see that he issues forth in safety from the ruins.” The old woman accordingly took her post at the window looking upon the back premises; while I, still with one knee upon the prostrate form of Lady Lilla Essendine, kept both my hands about her throat as if thus griping it in an iron vice. I re- tained likewise my looks keenly bent upon her eyes—flinging my regards down into their depths, as if therein to fathom the very purposes of her soul. In a few moments Dame Betty ejaculated, “ He is safe !’--and then I began to breathe more freely. I wae CHAPTER CXI. LADY LILLA AND ELLEN. YEs—I breathed more freely, for I felt that an immense advantage had been gained: but | did not relax my hold upon Lady Lilla’s throat. Ah, that beautiful throat!—I may here parenthically observe that it was destined to bear for several days the black and blue marks imprinted by my fingers ; for so soft was the skin that it was easy of discolouration. “Keep watch, dame!” I said. sued P” “ No—it is all right,” she responded. “There ! he has leapt the gate!— he is now proceeding along the road between this yard and the next! Ah! now he begins to run!-—he is proceeding at a tremendous pace !” “And there is no pursuit P’? I inquired, with “Ts he pur- “* Before you had got fifty paces from the ruins} increased exultation. the whole proceeding might be discovered—you } would be pursued and caught—whereas William “ None,”’ rejoined the dame. Still I kept my fingers menacingly upon the err te a nO re tm COMMICLOOO (E(O)