Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

eee —_——————————eEEeEEOEeEeEeE—eEeEeE————————— SE a + ee CO Cr eC > - --- 62 ter en ee ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, ninety, seated at a table on which were a few books and papers. The door had closed behind us—the dwarf had not followed us into that room—we were alone with that old man ; and my courage at once revived, for I felt assured that I was at length in the presence of the individual whom I had come to seek. In reference to this person I should add that he had a white beard, which threw out the natural swarthiness of his complexion in strong relief, as the light of the candle streamed upon it: his forehead was one mass of wrinkles— his nose was large and of the aquiline form—his mouth had completely fallen in through the lose of all his teeth: but it was not difficult to perceive that his profile must have once been handsome. His thin spare form was enveloped in a somewhat shabby dressing-gown of cloth with blue and black stripes—or rather I should say a species of plaid : a black silk skull cap was upon the table, as well as a large pair of horn spectacles with great cir- cular glasses. He was sitting in a large arm-chair, from which he did not move as we entered: but he bowed with an air of grave patronising solemnity as if he were a personage of authority. ** Be seated,” he said; and his voice was clear and firm, neither mumbling through the loss of his teeth, nor tremulous with old age. “ You are Miss Percy,” he continued, fixing upon me the dark eyes which still retained much of the fire that must have been vivid in his earlier years, and which were still keen and penetrating. “ And you are, Beda, who on more occasions than one rendered essential services to the deceased Zarah P” “Tam that same Beda,” replied the girl. “I need not tell you that I am of the same Zingari race to which you belong; and therefore 1 am con- fident that beneath this roof my beloved mistress and myself are in perfect security.” * ‘Why should you doubt it?” inquired the old man, turning somewhat in his chair to fix a atill more penetrating gaze upon Beda. * T will answer you frankly,” she responded. “There was a little circumstance which for a mo- ment seemed calculated to engender suspicion. We were shown into a room where we beheld a picture lifted up—a countenance looked in upon us—and we recognised a man who has no very great reason to entertain a friendly fecling to wards us,” “You mean Black Ned?r” said the white- bearded individual. ‘‘ Yes—I knew that he was in the house: he is even now waiting to see me upon business. You have been alarmed by a dis- play of impertinent curiosity on his part—that is all. Believe me——” * T cannot admit,” interrupted Beda, “that I was exactly alarmed ; for I had faith in the pro- mises and assurances which poor Zarah upon her deathbed gave my mistress.” ** And you were right to put faith in those as- surances,” rejoined the old man. “I know the cause of animosity which Black Ned has against you: but beneath this roof he is powerless to in- jure you; and I will presently speak to him ina way which shall disarm him of all resentment for the future. Alas! woe was it to Zarah, that for- saking the habits, the manners, and the creed of her race, she should have aspired to become tke fine lady! Had she been without this fatal ambi- LE stresses <n en ee se tion, she might now be in the enjoyment of life, blooming in her marvellous beauty—with hun- dreds of our faithful tribe ready to succour her in all legitimate undertakings, and to do her bidding. She might be free and happy: but now she is a cold corpse! Alas, poor Zarah! I knew her from her birth—I loved her as if she were my own child; and even though she renounced her race and her creed, thereby violating the laws which govern us, yet was I ready and willing to use my power on her behalf or in obedience to her dic- tates. And in the same way, Miss Percy, that I had undertaken to perform a certaid thing accord- ing to her desire, I am still prepared to carry it out ; for it is in reference to this that you have sought me?” * Then, you,” I said, “ must be Gilderoy Hemp ? and itis you that are to succour me in the recovery of my lost fortune ?” The old man bowed an affirmative response to these questions. He then consulted a memo- randum-book which lay upon the table before him; and he said, “I suppose I may take it for granted that the deceased Zarah explained to you the con- ditions on which I will act on your behalf. I will undertake to compel Mr. Parks to surrender up the fortune of which he plundered you; but I will not consent to become a party to the handing him over to the grasp of the law. On the con- trary, I expressly stipulate that when once he shall have rendered you an act of justice in respect to the restoration of that fortune, it shall be con- sidered that his punishment is sufficient and that an adequate atonement will have been made.” *I pledged myself to this effect to Zarah,” I said; “and though I candidly confess that for many reasons I regret the promise which under the influence of my distress and affliction I made at the time, yet I consider the vow to be sacred, and by no subterfuge will I seek to evade it.” * You speak fairly, Miss Percy,” replied Gilde- roy; “and I repose the fullest faith in your as- surances. On the present occasion I have nothing more to say to you: but within a few days all shall be accomplished. I know that your dramatic engagements occupy particular evenings in the week: be so good as to intimate those when your time is at your own disposal ?” I mentioned the evenings: and Gilderoy, put- ting on his great pair of horn spectacles, entered the memoranda in his book. “You must be prepared,” he continued, “ to obey the summons which you may receive on any of these evenings—and I promise you it shall be an early one—for your presence will be again re- quired here. You have my pledge for your safety and that of your handmaiden: hesitate not therefore to obey the summons when you may re- ceiveit! I need scarcely add that inasmuch as I am working in your interest, the seal of inviola- ble secrecy must rest upon your lips in reference to anything that may pass within these walls.” * ¥ should hold that I was performing a perfi- dious part,” was my response, “if I were to act otherwise :’—then with some little degree of hesi- tation I took out my purse, saying, “There will doubtless be expenses connected with these pro- ceedings on your part; and you must permit me to defray them.” EGomicbook (<)