Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

Et ean erepenpiemnanreeienennenpes eee eer 60 ‘ected again, he exclaimed, “It is well that you nre here, Mr. Moss, to become a witness of the violence to which I am subjected !” Moss made no reply, and did not even look at his master ; so that I felt convinced he had been by some means or another won over to mine own interests. The dwarf conducted him towards the clerk’s table, placing him in such a position that his countenance might be seen by all present as he gave his testimony. “ Mr. Moss,” said the Clerk of the Court, “ do you remember any particular occurrences in refer- ence to the prisoner Thomas Parks, and certain deeds in which a young lady of the name of Percy was interested P”’ * T yoemember such occurrences,” answered Moss: “ they happened on the Sth of October of last year—consequently upwards of seven months back.” “ And what were those occurrences?” inquired the Clerk. “On that day,” resumed Moss, “I witnessed a couple of deeds in the private office of Mr. Parks. Miss Percy and a gentleman were present. One of those documents was a conveyance from Mr. Parks to Miss Percy of a certain house at Leeds ; and this was.of course signed by Mr. Parks him- self.” “To whom had that house belonged P” inquired the Clerk. “To Miss Percy’s deceased grandfather, Mr. Forsyth,” was the response. “Has Miss Percy taken possession of that house P” ‘*'Yes—sho has been to Leeds and taken formal possession of it. This I know for certain, as Mr. Parks received a letter to that effect from Mr. Jacobs, a house agent at Leeds, who had the letting of the premises.” ** And what was the nature of the second docu: ment which you witnessed on the 5th of October P” inquired the Clerk of the Court. “It was a deed which Miss Percy signed,” an- swered Moss. ‘Its contents were to the effect that she recognised the validity of a will purport: ing to be that of Mr. Forsyth, and which had been administered to by Mrs. Parks, the mother of Thomas Parks who stands there. All the pro- visions of that will were duly set forth in the deed —and, in short, it was a kind of release given to Mr. Parks, he telling me at the time that it was an amicable arrangement to avoid a Chancery suit that would prove ruinous to both parties.” * And was there not a cheque given upon that occasion P” asked the Clerk of the Court. “There was,” responded Moss, * And now,” said the Clerk, “have you any- thing more to tell us in reference to these transac- tions P” “Yes,” replied Moss, ‘Something took place on the following day—namely, the 6th of Oc- tober.” ”’* And what was that?” inguired the Clerk, putting these questions from written memoranda which lay before him. * I must here observe,” said Mr. Moss, “that I had my suspicion that all was not quite right. When I was called up to witness those deeds on the 5th of October, there seemed something suspicious in my employer's manner—I can’t a ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. exactly describe what—but still I was not altoge- ther satisfied. I feared that Miss Percy was being deceived ; and I had a great respect for that young lady : I was uneasy on her account. Therefore, when she called at the office on the ensuing day, accompanied by the same gentleman as before, I listened at the door, and I learnt certain facts ? “And what were those facts,” inquired the Clerk of the Court. “‘ A cheque had been given to Miss Percy, as I have already said ; but this cheque had proved to be a blank slip of paper. Some altercation took place—I was summoned and sent off into the City to get Mr. Parks’s pass-book from the bankers— and on my return I again listened at the door, when from what ensued no doubt remained in my mind that some deed of villany had been per- petrated. Yet it was not for me to say a word upon the subject ; for if Miss Percy could not ad- duce any evidence to prove the fraud, my bare proclamation of a suspicion would have still less availed her purpose, while it would only have lost me wy situation.” ‘*'You therefore held your peace,” said Gilderoy, now interposing in the examination ; “‘ and no one can blame you for doing so under the circum: stances.” * Have you anything more to tell us, Mr. Moss ?” inquired the Clerk of the Court, again re- ferring to his notes. “Yes,” was the response. “ In consequence of certain communications made to me within the last few days rf “ T will here at once admit,’’ said the Clerk of the Court, addressing himself to the prisoner Parks, “ that it was I who made these communi: cations to Mr. Moss. Proceed, Sir,’ he added, turning towards the witness, * IT was about to observe,” continued Moss, “that in consequence of the communications you made to me, I searched in Mr. Parks’s office when he was absent: I discovered a bottle of ink, which was altogether different from the ink used in his establishment. I produce it. Here it is.” Thus speaking, he placed the ink-bottle upon the table. * And what have you discovered in reference to this ink ?”’ asked the Clerk. You yourself may test it, Sir,” answered Moss, “YT wrote you a note with that ink this morning, and sealed it with a particular seal.” * TIT received the note,” said the Clerk: “I perused its contents—and I remember them. The writing was quite plain and legible—the ink in which it was penned was of the usual blackness, Here is the note :”—and he took a letter from be- neath the papers on the table. * Yes—that is it,” said Mr. Moss; “I recog: nise it by the seal.” “But the writing on the envelope has disap- peared,” said the Clerk of the Court: and then opening the letter itself, he exclaimed, “ The writing inside has likewise vanished ! it is a blank piece of paper!’’ There was a moment’s sensation on the part of the gipsy auditory seated on the benches; and Beda whispered to me, “ Look at the guilty Parks !—he trembles in every limb! his guilt is being thoroughly brought home to him!” Gomicbook C Se ST eg Re a - (Eo)