Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

3800 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. A ED EG A —— ES Belgrave and Mrs. Gower were bending over her: At this moment I turned the key in the lock, they had only just thrown on some loose articles of | and I flung the door wide open, The whole spec- apparel—they had been alarmed by those terrific | tacle revealed itself completely. The flooring that cries which had swept like the yell of murder | had fallen in—the broken balustrades—the stair- through Kelvedon Hall. And now I myself flung | case that jutted out, as if without support, from on a shawl which I caught up—and I thrust my | the wall—the mass of ruins on the ground—and feet into slippers—and I sped towards the outer | two human forms stretched there, motionless, in door of the boudoir, at which there was renewed | positions which made them seem as if they had knocking; for Agatha had locked it again after | been flung there by giant hands—or what was giving admission to Cecilia and Aline. It was | still more natural, and was also strictly correct, as now his lordship who entered: he was terribly | if they had fallen from the open window above! alarmed—he asked a thousand questions—but I, And now a wild scream rang through the night- did not pause to answer one. I left the Countess air, and one of the half-clad female domestics of Belgrave and Aline to respond to them as best | sprang past me, threw herself upon one of the they might; for I had just hastily explained to | forms which lay prostrate there, and gave vent to them that a frightful catastrophe had occurred at | all the horror of her feelings in another long loud the private staircase. Snatching up the key of | scream of agony. It was Matilda! the door at the bottom of that private staircase, I * Poor young woman!” [ ejaculated: “the rushed from the boudoir, exclaiming, “ Come with | scene has turned her brain !” me, Agatha! I insist upon it that youcome!” | “Oh! wretch, wretch that I am!” she cried, in The young woman had also thrown on a few | accents that I shall never forget, and which even articles of apparel: she flung upon me a look/as I now write seem to be ringing in my ears which seemed to be full of astonishment; and then | still. “Kill me! slay me! take me to prison! she said, “ Most decidedly, Miss Percy, I am pre- | hang me on the highest gibbet!—for my crimes pared to go with you; and such peremptory lan- | are immense! Robert! Robert! speak, speak! guage is not necessary.” Are you dead? Ob, pray speak—if only for a I was just upon the point of telling her that | moment!” such bold words would not serve her turn, when I I was literally staggered by this scene: I was thought it useless to waste 4 moment of precious | stupified—I was astounded. What! Matilda thus time in bandying observations; and I rushed out | accusing herself? What did it mean? of the boudoir — thinking however to myself, “Why, this is Robert Burton!” exclaimed one “Something has unquestionably happened which | of the footmen, as he lifted up the individual on has brought matters to a crisis; and Agatha will | whose form Matilda had thrown herself, while a be unmasked—or perhaps she will fall upon her | couple of the females took charge of Matilda her- knees and confess !” self; for the wretched young woman had suddenly By this time the entire household was alarmed, | fallen iato a state of unconsciousness. and all the domestics were flocking from their re-| “And who have we here?” ejaculated another spective apartments. In a moment I was assailed | of the footmen, raising the second individual. by a dozen questions. * Why, is it possible? Mr. Cullingwood!” “What is the matter, Miss Perey? What were} ‘“Collingwood!”—and the name was echoed by those cries, Miss? -Was it his lordship? Is her | every tongue. ladyship worse? Is she dead? Are there rob- “ Bring them forth!” I said; “see if there be | bers in the house? What is it?”—and so forth. | life in them!” “Come with me,” I cried; “and you shall “ Mr. Collingwood is a corpse, Miss! Yes—his | see!” day is over!” exclaimed a footmane “In the name of heaven, Miss Percy, what is “And ’tis the same with Burton!” cried the the matter P” asked Matilda, who now came rush- | other footman. ing down the stairs, as pale as deatb,and only| “Robert Burton!” I ejaculated: “is that the half dressed—as indeed were the generality of the | man’s name ?” servants. “Yes, Miss—that’s the name.” “Come with me! come with me!” I ejaculated: I looked upon tke countenance, and it was “there is no time for explanations !” utterly unknown to me. A tremendous revuision We rushed down the principal staircase—we | of feeling was now taking place in my mind with _ gained the domestic offices: I flung open one of | a violence that was almost overwhelming. Robert | the back doors—and we passed out into the pre- Burton! that name answered to the initials at the mises in the rear of the mansion. It was a sin-| bottom of the letter which I had taken from the gular spectacle. There was I, holding in my hand stone vase! Good heavens! was it possible that a taper, followed by a crowd of half-dressed domes- | after all I had wrongfully suspected Agatha and tics, some three or four of whom also carried | her lover Richard Brownlow, while Matilda and _ lights; and a species of wild dismay was depicted | Robert Burton were in reality the guilty per- | upon all countenances. sons! Thus did we burst forth into the open air; and “ And who is Robert Burton?” I demanded: then I sped straight to the private door to which | “or rather I should ask, who was he a3 allusion has been so often made in recent chapters.| ‘ Why, Miss, didn’t you know ?” exclaimed the Some one, looking up, ejaculated, “ The window is | butler. ‘“ Mr. Collingwood’s servant.” open !” | There could be no longer a doubt: everything “Yes,” answered Agatha: “it was there that | was now apparent—and it was with the greatest they came in!” difficulty I could restrain myself from seiziog “Who came in?” demanded half-a-dozen voices. | Agatha by the hand, pressing it warmly, and im- “What! robbers?” ploring her to furgive me. EORNICLOOOKS. (EO)