Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

— ne ELLEN PERCY ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. ** Rest assured,” replied Gilderoy, “ no pledge which comes from my lips shall be violated! If your death were resolved upon, it would have been | sufficient to hand you over to one of the regular | tribunals of the country, in the presence of which | all your guilt would have been made apparent the 63 guards went forward to conduct Mr. Parks from the room. When the prisoner was led away, the men who had formed alike the auditory and the jury, rose from their seats and also quitted the apartment, followed by the individual who had officiated as Clerk. Gilderoy, Mr. Moss, and the same as itis here this night; and not merely | dwarf alone remained, in addition to Beda and would Miss Percy have recovered her fortune, but | myself. you would be doomed to the scaffold! As it is, we are contented with the atonement—and your life is spared. Your clerk is present: he is provided with certain necessary papers for you tosign. I will myself to-morrow see that the negotiation is fully carried out; and the moment that Miss Percy’s fortune irrevocably stands in her name in the Bank of England, or elsewhere, shall you be restored to liberty.” Mr. Parks advanced towards the table, which Mr. Moss likewise approached ; and though neither myself nor Beda caught what was said, yet was it plainly apparent that the lawyer in his malignity gaye vent to some reproach or insulting observa- tion to Mr. Moss ; for Gilderoy at once sternly in- terfering, exclaimed, “Silence, Sir! That young man is protected : he has given his assistance in a righteous cause—and he must not be made the object of your malevolence !” There was now silence for a few minutes, during which Mr. Moss produced some papers, which Mr. Parks proceeded to fill up. At the same time the , sable curtains behind Gilderoy’s chair were gradu- ally closed; and the sinister paraphernalia of death were concealed from the view. It appeared as if I could breathe more freely when this was done; and Beda whispered to me as she warmly pressed my hand, “Everything has ended well, dear Miss Percy! Accept my fervid congratula- tions !” “Thanks, dear Beda,’ I replied: “but we will not be too sure. I have already experienced so many disappointments, that not until the money shall be actually in my possession dare I flatter myself with the enjoyment of such good fortune. I know that so far as it depends upon that sagacious and friendly old man, as well as those by whom he is so ably succoured in these proceedings, all willbe done to ensure a success- ful issue, But you know the old proverb—which though vulgar, is a true one—‘ There is many a slip between the cup and the lip;’ and my past expe- riences prevent me from being sanguine.’ * And yet,” said Beda, “I scarcely now see how there can be any possibility of failure, Depend upon it, Gilderoy knows full well what he is about —and there is Mr. Moss, who is not only faithful to your interests, but he is a thorough man of business < “Well, my dear Beda, we shall see,” I inter- rupted her. “I confess that there appear to be ninety-nine chances to one that I shall recover the fortune of which I have so long been despoiled : but still there is that one chance which the chap- ter of accidents may turn up; and therefore if my star should still prove unlucky in this respect, Beda, you will see with what fortitude and calm resignation I shall endure the misfortune.” Here our softly whispered discourse was cut short by a movement at the table; for the business was evidently ended, Gilderoy took possession of the papers which had been signed: the gipsy- The hideous hunchback approached the curtain which concealed us—raised it—and invited us to come forth. I placed a couple of sovereigns in the dwarf’s hand; and any angry feeling which he might have cherished towards me on account of my conduct prior to the proceedings which had just terminated, vanished in a smile which dis- torted his countenance into a still more dreadful hideousness, if possible, and which displayed his large yellow teeth. I now approached Gilderoy, who was conversing with Mr. Moss; and to both of them did I express my sincerest gratitude for the good offices they had rendered with a view to procure me my rights. “You have of course lost your situation with your late employer,’ I said to Moss; “or at all events you would not resume it after everything which has occurred. You must permit me to make you such recompense as both my duty and my gratitude suggest “Tet all this stand over until to-morrow,” said Gilderoy: “it will be time enough, Miss Percy, when you are put in possession of your for- tune. Mr. Moss, in obedience to my directions, brought hither with him to-night the requisite printed forms for Mr. Parks to fill up, to effect the transfer of the money in the Bank of England. To-morrow Mr. Moss and I will attend to that business. Do you therefore at once return to your own abode, Miss Perey; for you must doubt- less be wearied with the excitement arising from these proceedings.” “Permit me to ask one question, my venerable friend,’ I said. “What has become of Dame Betty, the deceased Zarah’s grandmother ?” “She was on the Continent,” replied Gilderoy, “ when the intelligence reached her of her grand- daughter’s death. She came back to England— I scarcely know whether it was to remain here altogether—or whether it was to ascertain upon the spot all the particulars connected with that death. I learnt that she was in London; and this being the case, I was resolved to make her services available to-night; for I must tell you that in this respect I departed from the plan as it was originally sketched out by the deceased Zarah. Being fully aware of everything that concerns that vile old woman, I had her completely in my power: I threatened her—I made use of her as the means of inveigling Parks to this place—l forced her to give her testimony, as you heard it ere now. I had pledged myself for her safety, but on the express condition that she should de- part immediately on her return to France: for this purpose she was led away from the room the moment her testimony was given; and I hope and trust that she will never again set foot ir London. But with such a wretch nothing is cer- tain; and moreoyer she seems to have got hold of some idea that her granddaughter Zarah ex- perienced foul play at the hands of her hus- band sg Gomichboo (E)