Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 74: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “ Yes,” I answered; “ these proceedings are in- deed calculated to strike terror into his soul! <A thought has struck me, Beda! -Perchance, after all, the presence of that old hag Dame Betty 1s portentous only to the cause of Mr. Parks, and implies no danger to us P” “Look at all that is passing, dear Miss,” re- joined Beda: “and then reflect whether the venerable Gilderoy would suffer the slightest injury to be done unto you P” I had not time to make any reply; for the pro- ceedings were being continued. “ Have you anything more to communicate, Mr. Moss ?” inquired the Clerk of the Court. “Yes,” responded Moss: “I have one more fact to mention. From the communications made to me by you, Sir, I felt convinced that my original suspicion was correct, and that Miss Percy had been foully wronged. I saw that she had been duped into the signature of that deed of release — or rather, I should say, of amicable arrangement— which I witnessed. I therefore had no hesitation in searching amongst my employer’s papers—I dis- covered that deed—I abstracted it—I brought it here. I produce it!” Thus speaking, he laid the document upon the table, and both I and Beda again noticed that the | prisoner Parks was seized with a violent agitation. *T have nothing more to state,” said Mr. Moss. “Thomas Parks,” exclaimed Gilderoy, “ you are now at liberty to put any questions to this witness.” But the lawyer answered not a word: he main- tained a dogged silence, as he leant over the rail, with his eyes bent downward. Moss retired to a seat; and Gilderoy said ina loud voice, “ Call the next witness !” The dwarf again opened the door, and in a few moments Dame Betty made her appearance. That she was thoroughly prepared for the scene which she was to behold on entering, was sufficiently ap- parent from the nature of the glance of indifference which she flung around her. But then she looked more slowly and scrutinizingly about the apart- ment, perhaps expecting to find myself and Beda there. If so, in this she was disappointed: at least I am very certain that she had no suspicion of the fact of our concealment behind the curtain. She was much better dressed than ever I had be- fore seen her; she supported herself with a stick; and her countenance indicated no degree of trouble. The dwarf conducted her to the same spot near the table where Moss had previously stood; and Gil- deroy addressing her, said, “ Woman, remember everything that has already been said to you, and tell the truth upon the present occasion !” “And do you, Gilderoy,”’ she answered, “so- lemnly renew in the presence of these witnesses the pledge which you gaye me of my own safety tf , “That pledge is renewed,” interrupted Gil- deroy; “and now let the proceedings take their course.” ‘You know the man who stands there ?” said the Clerk of the Court, indicating Thomas Parks. 61 years ago: he spoke to me ona particular subject —we soon understood each other—and I sold him certain lozenges——” “‘ And those lozenges,” said the Clerk,—“ what did they contain P” “ Poison,” rejoined the harridan. “Do you believe,” continued the Clerk, “that the deceased Mr. Forsyth was put to death by means of those poisoned lozenges ?” “T am sure of it,” responded the Dame: “ for immediately after his death I met Parks at Leeds: I said to him, ‘So you have done the business :’ he did not deny it—but he gave me an additional sum of money. -That is all I have to state,” “Prisoner,” said Gilderoy, “ have you any ques- tions to put to this witness P” But Mr. Parks still maintained a dogged silence. There was a pause of nearly a minute; and then Gilderoy said, “ Let the woman depart.” Dame Betty seemed only too glad to avail her- self of this permission; she hobbled towards the door, which the dwarf opened ; and he accompanied her from the room. Ten minutes elapsed before he returned. The case,” said the Clerk of the Court, “is now complete against the prisoner Thomas Parks,” “Twill make a few observations upon it,” said Gilderoy: “and the prisoner may afterwards, if he think fit, give any explanation or say anything in his defence. The case, so far as it has gone, Thomas Parks, tells grievously against you. You purchased poison—the deceased Mr. Forsyth died under suspicious circumstances—and from the evi- dence of the last witness it would appear that his death was caused by that poison. You had a direct and most iniquitous interest in thus cutting off that old man. Years elapsed—and in your trans- actions with Miss Percy you were guilty of a tissue of frauds which are proved by your own clerk, There can be no doubt that the will to which your mother administered, and which is now at Doctors’ Commons, was a forgery. Perhaps I need not re- mind you that if Miss Percy were here present, she might give additional evidence, proving that you had acknowledged that will to be a forgery: but it has suited my purpose to conduct the pre- sent proceedings without requiring the testimony of that young lady. The fortune of which your mother and yourself plundered her, amounted to thirty thousand pounds in sterling money; but with the accumulations of interest down to the date of the 5th of October, the total sum was esti- mated at thirty-six thousand three hundred pounds. It may be useful to mention these facts: but be- fore I proceed any further, I await anything thaf you may have to urge in explanation or in your defence.” The lawyer still maintained a dogged silenee; and I said in a low tone to Beda, “ He evidently waits to see what is to follow. I myself am ata loss to comprehend how Gilderoy will now pro- ceed: for if the wretched criminal refuse to make restoration of my fortune, how can he be com. | pelled to do so? Gilderoy has pledged himself not to have recourse to torture—and I fear that the threat of handing Parks over to another tribunal “ Yes—I know him well enough,” replied Dame | will not have its weight with him.” Betty. “ There is no use in making along tale of it ——I know what I have to say—and I will say it at once, “Tet us see,” said Beda.. “Depend upon it | that Gilderoy has not gone thus far without being I met that man at York some eight or nine | fully conscious of the power to carry the matter I ees 0)(0)(0) (E(0) = SS (€(0)