Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 351: what you’re looking at

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398 teer to occupy the haunted apartment ; and thus I and Beda took up our quarters in the rooms originally intended for my reception. I dressed for dinner; and the evening passed away without any incident worthy of mention. Miss Barron still kept her chamber: but I learnt that she felt much better, and that she had positively declined to receive any medical advice. ase CHAPTER CXXIIL THE LIBRARY. Ir was about half-past ten o’clock when the family separated for the night ; and I was about to ascend to my own chamber, when I suddenly recollected to have seén in the library a compen- dious history of Warwickshire, with an account of all the leading families that in times past or pre- sent had any connexion with the county. I de- termined to procure the volume: and I retraced my way for the purpose. So completely was everything which had that day occurred now up- permost in my mind, that I entirely forgot the in- cident of the cloaked figure in the library, . until my fingers grasped the handle of the door leading into it. I confess that I suddenly stopped short : but the next instant I was ashamed of myself for this pusillanimous hesitation; and I mentally ejaculated, “I will not deserve the name of coward even in my own secret thoughts !” I therefore boldly opened the door, ahd éntered the library. Rapidly were my looks swept around; but no one met my eyes. There was the screen occupying its usual place, and so situated as to protect any one who might bé in the library from the draught of the glass door opening into the garden. Determined not to be ovétcome by any superstitious feeling, I advanced with steady and firm gait towards that scréen, and glanced be- hind it. Noone was there: but I nevertheless started—for the sound of the rustling of a window curtain close by, had assuredly fallen upon my ear. Instantaneously was my look flung in that direc- tion. It was a window in a species of recess be- yond the ranges of shelves in the library ; it was in the same wall as the glass-door itself—it there- fore looked likewise upon the back garden. Yes— that curtain was still moving !—it had evidently been agitated——but might it not be by the wind? I was about to turn away, upbraiding myself for the transient terror which had seized upon me, when methought that if I wished to restore my credit in my own estimation, I ought to go boldly and Jook behind that curtain in order to assure myself that there was really nothing there. “Yes—I will do it!” I said; and accordingly forthwith towards the curtain did I advance. Scarcely however had my hand touched it, when it was thrust aside by some one behind; and thence forth glided a tall figure, completely muffled in a cloak, just as I had seen it on the preceding even- ing. A cry was on the very point of bursting forth from my lips, and the taper was nearly drop- ping from my hand,—when I caught sight of a countenance which at once struck me as being not ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, oc a altogether unfamiliar. All my fortitude revived ina moment: I knew that it was no ghost—and I sprang towards him, tearing his cloak off his shoulders, and crying, “Stop, I command you!” “For God’s sake, have mercy upon me!” were the imploring words that now fell upon my ears; and the individual, taking off his cap, revealed his countenance completely. It was that of Ludovico Marano, as I had already “Have merey?” I ejaculated indignantly. “Mercy on whom? On an intruder?” “Oh, Miss Perey! you cannot possibly think,” éxclaimed Ludovico, “that I should have come hither for any improper purpose!” “To steal into @ private mansion — to creep hither as the burglar comes!” I angrily rejoined: “to penetrate like the gliding thief ” * By heaven, Miss Percy, these are strong terms which you are using!” interrupted Ludovico; and I perceived that a demoniacal expression of rage flitted over his countenance, reminding me of that diabolical look whieh he wore when about a fort- night back he had said to me at Colonel Tre- maine’s house in South Street, Park Lane, “ Miss Percy, I will be avenged! Youknow me! I will be avenged !” For an instant therefore I was seized with alarm, as I remembered that I was alone in that room with a man who had already in the case of Luigi given such frightful evidence of his terrible vindictiveness. “Signor Marano,” I said, “ you cannot be sur- prised if strong terms should ¢ome from my lips when I encounter you here!” “Now, hear me, Miss Percy! hear me!” he said, in a tone of voice which was full of pathetic entreaty. “I love Charlotte—and I seek one last interview with her! You must suffer me to be- hold her for the last time! Oh, pray do not refuse me!—but father assist me in my design!” “ T assist, Signof Marano, in such a proceed- ing?” I ejaculated, my indignation again getting the better of my prudence or my terror. “ Tell me in one word, how did you gbtain admittance hither ?” “It is easy to conceal oneself in this place of an evening,” he replied; “and as for that glass door, no one seems to think it strange if it be found unlocked in the morning. I will deal frankly with you, Miss Percy. I have heard the legend connected with Tremaine Hall —~” “Ah!” I said. “ And you think that——” “Let me explain!” he interrupted me “ I thought it possible that Charlotte might happen to come hither alone—to fetch a book—or to give way to her thoughts, if she still loves me. And then this guise,” continued Marano, “ would have served me well in case I had happened to run against a domestic. Ah! and by the bye, Miss Percy, I think that you yourself were yesterday evening inclined to believe that you had seen the spirit of Captain Cautley ye **A truce to this idle discourse, signor,” I ex- claimed. “Learn from my lips: the assurance that Charlotte Tremaine does not continue to think of you—at least not with love! And there- fore be persuaded by me—act a prudent, I will even say a generous part—and seek not to perse- cute that young lady! If I have now abstained CORNIECLOOOLK (C (E©)